THE LAMP—AN OBJECT-LESSON.
By Walter E. Gillis
“For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead.” Rom. 1:20. “Oh, here comes Uncle Ithiel!” and a band of boys and girls bounded down the roadway to meet the genial old gentleman who had caused the general exclamation. The sun is just setting, as the group approach the house, youth and old age blending in a comradeship that is pleasant to see. Uncle Ithiel is plainly a follower of Jesus. His influence appeals to the children, who evidently hold him in high esteem. A heavenly peace lights up his face, and joy sparkles from the eyes,—truly windows of the soul in this man. As the twilight deepens, and lights begin to glimmer from the windows, the young folks persuade their guest to tarry yet awhile, and, by the cheery grate, weave for them a story such as they love. Uncle Ithiel.—Well, Lorena, what shall it be? I've told you young folks a good many stories, and it seems to me we will have a time securing a subject of interest, and simple enough for all. Lorena.—That's so, uncle; but, do you know, I have been thinking a great deal about fairy stories of late. At school we hear many of them, but when the teacher finishes telling them, or reading them, she always says, “Now, this is not a true story; it is just make-believe.” The last one we heard was about Aladdin and his magic lamp. It was interesting, but what's the good, when it isn't real, and we can never have an experience like that? Now, couldn't you tell us a true fairy story? Something that we can hope to be some day? I would like to be a princess, and bring joy to many a sorrowing heart,—something that will last, and not fly away home as soon as the sun appears in the morning. Uncle Ithiel.—Yes, my child, you shall have your wish. I will tell you of a lamp that far surpasses that of the nursery-famed Aladdin. But first bring a lamp and the Bible. Lorena.—Good! now I know it will be true, for the Bible is God's Word, and God never tells anything but the truth, does He? Uncle Ithiel.—You are right, my child. This story will be all true, for it will all be taken from the Bible. Now, you must all be sure to pay good attention, and try to remember it, so that you can tell it to others some day. Here comes grandma. Suppose we get her to read the Bible texts for us, while you listen, and answer my questions. And now we are ready for our little study, for I am going to let you help me tell the story this time. Before we light the lamp, we will examine it, and find out all we can about it. I wonder if little Helen can tell us what a lamp is for! Helen.—Yes, of course, uncle, it is to give light. Uncle Ithiel.—How much light? Many voices.—All it can be made to give. Uncle Ithiel.—Now, let us examine the lamp, and see of what parts it consists, and how it burns. Let us have Peter point out, and tell what the different parts are for. Peter.—Very well. This is the bowl, to hold the oil; and this is the burner, to hold the wick; and here is the wick, to convey the oil up to the flame; and this11the globe, to protect the flame, and cause it to shine brighter. Uncle Ithiel.—But where is the light? Children.—O! there is no oil in the lamp. Uncle Ithiel.—All right, we will have Peter put some oil in the lamp. Now, where is the light? Children.—You must light it. Uncle Ithiel.—But you said the lamp was to give light. Varda.—Yes, but you must light it first. Uncle Ithiel.—Quite true. Now we will light it. How is this? It won't burn. Let us see what is the matter. See, the wick is too short. Well, let us make the oil go up into the wick. It lights all right now. Children.—Yes, but it won't last long. See, it is burning down already. Uncle Ithiel.—To have a good steady light, what must we have? Children.—The wick in the oil all the time, and plenty of oil in the lamp. Uncle Ithiel.—You are right, but (smutting the chimney) what is the matter now? Tirzah.—The globe is dirty. Uncle Ithiel.—So then, it is also necessary to have a clean globe. Does it make any difference what color or shape the lamp may be? Peter.—No; for I have seen hundreds of different kinds, and, so long as the same oil and wick were used, the same bright light resulted. Uncle Ithiel.—Now, let us see if this little study will help us to understand about the wonderful lamp that I said would outrival the fabled lamp of Aladdin, and still be strictly real and true. Now listen while we have grandma read from God's Holy Word. But first let us pray that God will bless us as we study, and give us His Holy Spirit to teach us. Grandma, please read to us what Solomon learned about the just. Grandma.—“The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Prov. 4:18. Uncle Ithiel.—You see here that people are likened to lamps that give light. Laura.—It just calls them lights; it doesn't say they are lamps. Uncle Ithiel.—Well, let us hear what it says about the wicked man. Grandma.—“The light of the righteous rejoiceth; but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.” Prov. 13:9. “Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.” Prov. 20:20. Uncle Ithiel.—Now, if men are lamps, where is the bowl for the oils? Where is the wick, and how do they get lighted in the first place? First we will find out what the oil is. Grandma.—“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” Heb. 1:9. “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power.” Acts 10:38. Uncle Ithiel.—So you see the Holy Spirit is the oil. Now, we will learn of the vessel to hold it. Grandma.—“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God [Acts 5:32], and ye are not your own?” 1 Cor. 6:19. Varda.—Are the negroes, Indians, Japanese, and all those other foreign people as good as white men in God's sight? Grandma.—“God that made the world and all things therein . . . hath made of one blood all nations of men.” Acts 17:24-26. “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.” Acts 10:34, 35. Uncle Ithiel.—Now, we have our lamp. Shall we light it? Grandma.—“For Thou wilt light my lamp [margin]; the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.” Ps. 18:28. “Wherefore He saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and rise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Eph. 5:14. “The entrance of Thy Word giveth light.” Ps. 119:130. “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. . . . That was the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:4-9. Tirzah.—Isn't that plain! But where is the wick and the globe? Uncle Ithiel.—We will find them, too. What did we learn was the oil? Children.—The Holy Spirit. Uncle Ithiel.—So, if we can find out how to get the Holy Spirit, we will have the wick, won't we? For the wick conveys the oil to the place where the light is seen. Grandma.—“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” Luke 11:13. Uncle Ithiel.—What is the name we give to asking God for things? Varda.—Prayer, or talking with God. Uncle Ithiel.—Yes. And how long did we find that the wick had to remain in the oil to give a good, steady light? Uncle Ithiel.—And does the Bible say we should pray all the time?—Yes; just listen. Grandma.—“And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Luke 18:1. “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thess. 5:17. Uncle Ithiel.—Does that mean that we must always be asking for the Holy Spirit?—Yes, I think it does. But there is more than one way of asking, and I believe I have found a better way. You know that the wick in the lamp does not ask for oil, but just as long as the wick is in the oil, and the light is burning, the oil comes right up to the flame. It is the light that asks for oil. If there were no light, there would be no need of oil. And so it is with us. So long as our light is burning, pointing souls to Jesus, the oil will come to the burning, and our wick will be thanking and praising God “for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.” And this the Bible teaches, for we have the record of the first Pentecost, when the Spirit was given, of which time the record says: “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. . . . Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:41-47. You see we take up so much time with our own little cares and pleasures that we forget to praise God, and to seek to win souls for Him, and so, while there is no light, there is no need for the oil. If every day we remember and live for the Lord, and study His Word, our light will shine, pointing all with whom we have to do to “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” And now we will have grandma read for us what the good Book says about the globe. Grandma.—“A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.” Eccl. 8:1. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Prov. 9:10. Uncle Ithiel.—Please read, also, how we are to shine. Grandma.—“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the Word of life.” Phil. 2:15, 16. “It is the Spirit that quickeneth [gives life]; the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63. Varda.—O, Uncle Ithiel, can we be a beautiful lamp by praying to God, and reading the Bible? And how can we know when we are shining? Uncle Ithiel.—Listen. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22. God says, “Let your light so shine before men.” Matt. 5:16. If we put nothing in the way, the light will shine. But look, what is the matter with our lamp? See, the wick has formed a crust, and is burning up the oil without giving us the benefit of a good light. Now that is called a “thief in the candle.” Misusing a thing is stealing honor from the owner. And here is a good lesson for us. When the Lord very graciously gives us His Spirit to direct our lives, and we do nothing to help others to become Christians, self becomes a thief, and robs God of the glorious fruit He has a right to expect. So we become wicked. And what did we learn would happen to the wicked? Children.—“The lamp of the wicked shall be put out.” Prov. 13:9. Uncle Ithiel.—And now, children, I must hasten home. Some other time I may tell you some wonderful things about the oil for our living lamp, and how to keep the globe bright and clean. Won't you sing me that pretty little song about “You in your corner, and I in mine.” “Jesus bids us shine with a pure, clear light,
Like a little candle burning in the night;
In this world of darkness, we must shine,
You in your corner, I in mine. “Jesus bids us shine through the gloom around;
Many kinds of darkness in this world are found;
Sin, and want, and sorrow: so we shine,
You in your corner, I in mine. “When we shine for others, we shine for Him,
Well He sees and knows it, if our light is dim;
He looks down from heaven to see us shine,
You in your corner, I in mine. “Jesus is a bright light of love divine,
When on Him we're looking, then it is we shine,
Like the silver moon, with borrowed light,
Each in his corner, doing right.” Uncle Ithiel.—Thank you. How nice it is. Now, you must remember, Jesus is still a man (1 Tim. 2:5) in heaven, the Lamp that lights the universe, and as His lamp lights you, so you may lead others to be lighted by that lamp everywhere you go. Now, good-night.