Keep it Burning

Mike Hosey, An Elder

In Exodus 27:20-21, God commands his people to always keep a light burning in the Tent of Meeting area of the tabernacle. This light was to be kept burning all through the night. In other words, this area was to be lit whenever the sun - the light of the earth - was not in the sky.

It is important to note that this area of the tabernacle was the Old Testament place where God met with his people. Before the permanent temple was built, this tent moved where ever the people moved. It was central to their culture. So what was God trying to say using light and this temporary structure? Perhaps He was showing us what we are to be. Let's examine that idea.

After Jesus came, the bible teaches us that people themselves became the temple (1 Corinthians 3:16). In fact, the original temple never really was a dwelling place for God at all (Acts 17:24). He doesn't live in temples made by human hands, after all.

So if we are the temple, and if our gathering as a community is really the tent of meeting, and if Jesus, our light of the world (John 8:12 ) is no longer on earth in bodily form, then we must also be the priests and the lights who keep his temple lit.

The concept is powerful, and should fill you with awe. Until Jesus returns, we are to shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:15), and to give glory to God through that light (Matthew 5:16).

So how do we do that? Well consider that oil is frequently a symbol associated with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, 1 John 2:20). When God annointed Jesus (annointing is a word used to describe how oil is applied) with the Holy Spirit, He did mighty things, and his lamp shined before men and pointed them to God.
Notice how in the original temple, the people were to keep the lamps lit with pure olive oil. If you are to shine your light before men and illuminate the way to the tent of meeting for them, then you need to keep your lamp full of oil. You have a responsibility to keep the fire burning, and to be submissive to the presence of the Holy Spirit - just like the priests of the early tabernacle.

And we need also to ask ourselves, is our Tent of Meeting central to our culture, and do its lights go wherever we go?