BE A CANDLE FOR THE LORD… By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I HAVE A LARGE CANDLE BURNING IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH. I LOOK TO THE CANDLE FROM TIME TO TIME. THINKING OF HEAVEN… (Unknown) THINK OF… STEPPING ON A SHORE AND FINDING IT HEAVEN. THINK OF… TAKING A HAND AND FINDING IT THE NAILED SCARRED OF JESUS… THINK OF… STRUGGLING FOR BREATH AND BREATHING A NEW AIR, FINDING IT CELESTIAL AIR. THINK OF… FEELING WEAK AND TIRED THEN SUDDENLY FEELING INVIGORATED, FEELING IMMORTALITY. THINK OF… PASSING FROM THE STORM TO THE TEMPEST THEN TO UNBROKEN CALM. THINK OF… WAKING UP AND FINDING YOURSELF AT HOME… HEAVEN.
My first mission trip to Haiti. I was invited to make a brief first comment to the 1800 people at the Great Convention. I stepped to the mic and said: I AM A CANDLE FOR THE LORD, I GIVE MYSELF FOR THE LIGHT. The Creole interpreter did not understand me… The third time I held up my index finger and made a flame like with my other hand. He understood and introduced me as THE CANDLE FOR JESUS. In the day I would hear the Haitians whisper as I walked by… I asked the interpreter, what are they saying? He told me they are saying HERE COMES THE CANDLE… I learned to recognize their words. HERE COMES THE CANDLE. On my other trips to Haiti… The people in the compound would say: HERE IS THE CANDLE. He gives himself for the light.
GOD SAID LET THERE BE LIGHT AND THERE WAS LIGHT… GOD SAW THE LIGHT WAS GOOD… Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
GOD SAID LET THERE BE LIGHT… THERE WAS LIGHT… THE LIGHT WAS GOOD… Remember my last broken ribs? I bought Linda a fire pit for her birthday. It was so heavy I could not move it. I struggled to get it out of the back of the Flex. Later that night, I was delivering food to some friends in the darkness I had several plates of food. I was stepping out the door… there are 3 steps. I have lived here 32 years, I know the steps. My heart clearly said: Turn on the porch light. I said, I know these steps. I did not turn on the light, I stepped down 3 steps and started walking toward the car. I forgot the 200 pound fire pit was between me and the car. I FELL HARD, I BROKE 4 RIBS BAD and wasted several dishes of food. I lay on the ground in great pain and could not get up. I felt so stupid. If I had turned on the lights, I would not have fallen… I UNDERSTAND WHY GOD SAID THE LIGHT IS GOOD…
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
John 8:12 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.
Jesus taught a good lesson, I am the Light. Jesus gives light to anyone who looks and will receive it. Anyone who follows Jesus will not stumble in the darkness. Jesus provides plenty of light for us to live…
ALL LIFE AS WE KNOW IT TODAY COMES FROM LIGHT… The grass, the trees, the cows and all human life exists BECAUSE OF LIGHT.
WHAT ABOUT THE LIGHT? OF COURSE NOT… YOU CHANGE… (Unknown)
When a flashlight grows dim or quits working, do you just throw it away? Of course not. You change the batteries. When a person messes up or finds themselves in a dark place, do you cast them aside? Of course not. You help them change their batteries. Some need AA… Attention and Affection. Some need AAA… Attention, Affection and Acceptance. Some need C… Compassion. Some need D… Direction. And if they still don’t seem to shine… simply sit with them quietly and share your light with them.
MY CANDLE? I FIND THE ROOM SO DARK… WILL MY LITTLE LIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? WILL I CONSIDER MY SEEDS, MY LITTLE CANDLE, MY LITTLE LIGHT…
I sit and watch the little flame flicker back and forth on the wick of the candle. The flame seems so small… What a great fire this little flame could kindle. One match could light the pilot on a furnace that could warm a house for many years. THERE IS POWER NOT IN THE CANDLE BUT IN THE FLAME.
LET US CONSIDER HOW THE CANDLE MUST FEEL… THE FLAME CONSUMES THE CANDLE… The candle gives itself for the light. Does the heat hurt? Does the candle feel good as the light gradually consumes it?
Amy Carmichael lived from 1897 to 1951. Amy penned these words: GOD DELIGHTS TO MEET THE FAITH OF ONE WHO LOOKS UP TO HIM AND SAYS: “LORD, YOU KNOW I CANNOT DO THIS --- BUT I BELIEVE YOU CAN.”
HIS CANDLE AM I! (Unknown)
HIS CANDLE AM I TO SHINE WHERE HE SHALL SAY.
CANDLES ARE NOT FOR SUNNY ROOMS, NOR FOR THE BRIGHT OF DAY.
CANDLES ARE FOR THE DARK PLACES OF THE EARTH WHERE SHAME AND WRONG
AND CRIME GIVE BIRTH OR THE MULKY TWILIGHT GRAY.
WHERE WANDERING SHEEP HAVE GONE ASTRAY
OR WHERE THE CANDLE OF FAITH GROWS SO VERY DIM AND THE SOULS ARE GROPING AFTER HIM.
SOMETIMES A FLAME WE FIND, CLEAR SHINING THROUGH THE NIGHT…
SO DARK WE CANNOT SEE THE CANDLE, BUT ALL WE CAN SEE IS THE LIGHT.
SO MAY I SHINE HIS LOVE AND HS FLAME, THAT MEN MAY GLORIFY HIS NAME… (Unknown)
Conclusion. In 1990 my son was 14 and a freshman at Warren East High School. For his English class he had to write a poem. I was preparing for trash day and his garbage can was full. As I was emptying his can I saw a lot of wadded up paper. I read the poem and rescued it from the garbage truck.
MAKES ME THINK
By Wade Martin Hughes, Jr.
DEATH IS SOMETHING THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BE,
NOW OR LATER FOR YOU AND ME.
I WONDER HOW? I WONDER WHY? ACCIDENTLY? NATURALLY?
HOW WILL I DIE?
MAKES ME THINK ABOUT HOW I WILL LIVE?
LIFE IS NOT ONLY TAKE, BUT ALSO A TIME TO GIVE.
WITHOUT LOVE AND WITH OUT FRIENDS
LIFE WOULD BE USELESS TO ALL ENDS.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOUR LAST BREATH?
THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SUBJECT OF DEATH.
IS IT WITH EASE? OR IS IT WITH PAIN?
IS IT ALL LOSS? OR IS IT GREAT GAIN?
LIFE IS SO SHORT, DO WHAT YOU CAN,
DO SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOUR FELLOWMAN.
DEATH MAY COME WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT!
SO PLEASE TREAT ALL LIFE WITH GREAT RESPECT.
I STAND AT NIGHT AND LOOK INTO THE FACES AND I READ THEIR HISTORY OF WANT AND WOE… THEY NEED THE LIGHT TO REACH INTO THE DARK CORNERS TO BRING HOPE, JOY AND PEACE. SING WITH ME… THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE… I AM GOING TO LET IT SHINE…
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
