Trimmed and Burning
"Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’" Matthew 25:7-8
"Daddy, what are you doing?"
"I'm trimming the wick," he said.
"But, why are you doing that?"
The man took his knife and cut the black soot from the wick and adjusted the height so as not to have too much or too little of the wick exposed in the old kerosene camping lamp. Then, making sure there was plenty of kerosene in the lamp, he lit it. Looking up into the starry night sky, he turned again to his daughter.
"When I cut all the black soot from the wick, the lamp burns bright and clear, without any smoke. Trimming the wick also helps it burn longer, and it draws up the fuel so that the wick, itself, doesn't burn."
The little girl stared intently at the bright flame and then up into the beautiful night sky, pondering it all in her heart and mind.
"This lamp, my dear daughter, is like your life. If you are careful to obey God's Word and trim out the sin that so easily creeps in, the light of your life will burn long, no matter how long you live. The light of Jesus within you will shine bright and clear--for all the world to see--and you will be ready when He returns."
As the mother called them all into the tent for sleep, the father took the lamp and placed it on top of the picnic table.
"Daddy, why are you putting it there," the daughter asked.
"So everyone can see it, my dear."
The Holy Bible tells us in Luke 11:33, "No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light."
May you keep your lamp trimmed and burning, ready for the Master, should He return for you today.
Goodnight, Runners.
Comments