The Candle – The Wick and the Flame

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:5 KJV

Our Sunday night prayer meeting had been dismissed and we were beginning to greet one another, when our friend Judy hurried over to the pastor with a question, “Pastor Kevin, I’m not leaving here until you explain the Trinity to me!”

I groaned inwardly and whispered quietly to my wife, “Looks like we’re going to be here a while!”

But Pastor Kevin just smiled and said, “No one can explain it perfectly Judy, but think of a candle, a wick and the flame. The candle is the source of everything, the wick draws the wax up and the flame is what people see in a dark room.” I relate this story for those who like Judy, struggle to understand the Trinity. Entire denominations have separated themselves from the rest of the church over this issue, with some even going so far as to consign the rest of us to the dark side for our belief in a God who is three in one. But we may never sort it all out and demanding to do so is no more helpful than chopping up the candle, helps us understand the flame. Maybe the candle of God burns to draw us closer, so that our hearts will be set aflame with the love of Jesus Christ. When He becomes our candle our wick and flame, then God flow through us to others, so that He will shine in the darkness till day that Jesus returns!

Shining Our Lights

Okay I know that in Jesus day there were definitely no electric lights! In His time you either had to use an oil lamp or a candle, either of which needed a wick. But you could also consider a light bulb as a sort of wick. Just as with the others it does not have the capacity to produce light. Instead it provides a place through which the oil, candle wax or electric current passes allowing it to shine. Oh yes we do need to continually go to Jesus to be sure our lamps are filled with the oil of His Spirit. But we also need to be sure that our wicks be kept trimmed and clean so that His flame can burn its brightest. When the light burns the best no one will even remember seeing that little wick. I am so glad that Jesus promised he would not put out a smouldering candle. Instead He snips off the old dark and hardened portions of my wick so I can burn my brightest for Him!

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 NKJV