In order to keep the candle burning, you must first allow yourself to be set apart as a candle. There is a way to do that. Secondly, you must allow yourself to become lit up with the light of Christ. There is also a way to do that. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Following that, you become His light in the world (Matthew 5:14). Finally whereupon you receive the lighting, you must be willing to keep that candle burning. As well, there is a way to do that, too.
In his last words from the cross, Jesus said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46). Jesus demonstrated to the world what each must do sometime before he/she dies. Each person must commit his/her spirit to God, and hopefully, long before death in order to become for a time the light of the world. At some point it would seem that if the Son of God in his very last word, said as much, how much more does the individual in the street, let alone the person in the pew, have to do likewise. No one is exempted from this dedication.
Jesus had shown us in his telling that he is "the way, the truth and the life." He had shown us in his doing by following through and going to the cross. Moreover, Jesus demonstrated when he spoke from his position on the cross saying just before he died, "Father into your hands I commit my spirit." In any domain, action always speaks louder than words? Jesus had a choice in this matter. You remember that he asked if it were possible for the cup be taken from him (Matthew 26:39). Yet he said to his Father, "Not as I will, but as you will." As the Heavenly Father willed, to that will did Jesus submit. As the Heavenly Father directed, to that direction Jesus yielded. Most are not requested by God to go to the cross; they are but asked to commit their spirits to God through Christ. And harder it is for the more to do less than it is for the "less" to do more. That is, the majority have been given the occasion to do the "less" (commiting their spirits to God through Christ) as opposed to being actually crucified. To all Jesus says, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:30).
When Jesus said in his seventh and last word, "into your hands do I commit my spirit" the light of the world had then departed. With that light gone, Jesus provided the opportunity for that light to remain in the world. How? Through you. He said said that you must put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons and daughters of the light (John 12:36). Truly, there is only one way to know whether you will ever become a candle. Jesus said, "whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). Possessing the light of life creates the human candle. To keep the candle burning, we must not only become carriers of that light, but we must insure that we do not hide that light under a bushel (Mt. 5:14).
For each person who keeps the candle burning, light will first and foremost remain in the world. The Light of the world right now is only in this world inasmuch as -- and in the same proportion and quantity as -- the numbers of people who have received that light. Each one who receives Christ as Lord and saviour has his or her part of the great commission: to keep the candle burning. You can make Jesus's last words of "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" be your first words today. God wants you to become one of his candles. Become a carrier of the light now and keep the candle burning. http://www.geocities. Com/ babalabean. Also on 106.9 fm on chrq Sundays at 8 a.m. Sponsored by CFP Concepts, Inc., C'ton, NB