Day 9: 7-branch Candlestick-Light for the World

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 8:12

Not a candelabra, rather a 7-cup oil lamp. Well, rather a stand holding 7 oil lamps or cups. We aren’t told the dimensions but God gave a specific description for it. 

A center stem with three branches coming from each side, the entire lamp made by hand from one single talent of gold, weighing about 50 pounds. The cost would be staggering if we could even imagine. It was the priests responsibility to daily trim the wicks and fill the cups with oil, so that the light was strong and steady, just as it is our responsibility daily to see to ourselves so that we are a reflection of the light to the world.

This is the only illumination here, it fills the entire room. And why should it not? For God is light, and no darkness is in Him. (I John 1:5). 7 flames burn-the 7 we see so much that is a symbol of completeness, shown to us by God over and over and over. This lamp stand reminds us that in the throne room of Heaven stands the real lamp stand, the ‘seven spirits of God’ or the symbol fo the Holy Spirit and it’s seven attributes-as was written by Isaiah the Prophet ‘And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,  the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of council and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord all surrounding the center one, the Spirit of the Lord. This was the spirit that led Christ through His earthly ministry, that comforted Him and sustained Him. That Christ sent back as the promised ‘comforter’ to us, that resides to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement through it’s light that exposes all of our deeds and thoughts. 

It is Christ that has ‘…the seven spirits of God and holds the seven stars (who) knows (our) works.’ The comforter He promised would guide us until His return.

For us a comfort. But Christ standing there reminds is that it is our responsibility to keep the wicks trimmed. To not ‘quench the spirit’. And He gave us a warning through John’s revelation to the church of Ephesus “Remember, therefor from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works: or else I will come unto thee and remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent’. (Rev. 2:4)  And what are these ‘first works’? They are His last instructions to us before He left to prepare our eternal home. To ‘…go into all the nations, teaching them and baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all the things I have taught you…’ (Matt. 28:19-20)

Yes, we are eternally saved. But there is work to do here and now, and Christ has supplied the Spirit to be the light that through us the world might see Him.

Scripture reading for today:

Isaiah 9:2
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Micah 7:8
Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.