Where Are The Lamps?
- Heidi Eva Jones
- Nov 17, 2025
- 10 min read
Volume 14 Issue 7
Greeting in His Name,
As we navigate through some of the darker areas of our cities, it's impossible to ignore the palpable sense of need that envelops us. The challenges people face extend far beyond mere physical hardships; many are grappling with profound spiritual struggles, feeling weak, defeated, and isolated in their journeys. The weight of these invisible burdens can be just as heavy, if not heavier, than those we can see.
As we reflect on these realities, a poignant question arises: Where is the light in all of this? It is with this contemplation in mind that I have titled today's blog "Where Are the Lamps?" I hope that within these words, you find not only inspiration but also a sense of conviction and perhaps some thought-provoking questions to ponder as we seek to illuminate the paths for ourselves and those around us.
shalom and love,
heidi
Luke 11:33 "No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 34 Your eye {faculty of knowing – vision} is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy {clear}, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. 35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you."
Where Are the Lamps?
Punching Holes in the Darkness
There is a story about Robert Louis Stevenson (author of Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) growing up in Scotland. In those days, streetlamps didn't just come on automatically; people were hired to light each one individually. One evening, as the lamplighters did their work —climbing their ladders, lifting the glass lid, lighting the torch, shutting the lid, climbing down, and moving on to the next lamp —young Stevenson was fascinated. As the sunset settled into the night, one light would be ignited, then another, and another. Stevenson turned to his parents and said, "Look, they're punching holes in the darkness!"
As members of the body of Christ, are we punching holes in the darkness? Are we actively shining light in the darkness? To make it more personal, am I making a difference in the body of Christ? Is the devil horrified because he knows I can punch holes in his dark, punch holes in his deceptive plans? Can any - body - see - my - light?
Some years ago, I attended funerals that allowed me to see a 39-year-old mother of 3 and a 79-year-old mother of 1 laid to rest, both of whom, in my opinion, punched holes in the darkness. Their personal testimonies and service made a significant difference. The thought challenged me: when we take our last breath, when we are laid in that box that cradles our earthly space suit, will—we—have made such a difference in the earth that, even though we are resting in a box, our works will continue to punch holes in the darkness?
Pause...
Let's ponder for a moment, where do we see the light of Christ shining in our lives?
Where are the Lamps?
The writer of this Gospel, Luke, was not one of the disciples; he was a doctor who came into contact with Paul and, from that meeting, became a follower of Christ. I believe the evidence shows that, in his writing of the book of Luke, he was not your typical believer. Luke really researched this man called Jesus the Christ, and he wrote about Him from the perspective of one who wanted to know the divine and the human sides of our Savior, JESUS.
The verses above show that Luke, the physician, took a small part of the anatomy that makes up our body – THE EYE... and he has used it to help us understand what we should and should not let into us and what we should and should not let out of us. He has given us a means of governing ourselves as believers. This underscores the importance of active obedience and study in our spiritual journey.
Let's take a look at Luke's eye exam.
Research shows that the eye is the most complex organ in our body. Amazingly, something so small can have so many working parts. And when you consider how difficult the task of providing vision really is, it leaves one to wonder. Let's simplify it. The human eye is like a camera. Light comes in through the cornea, a clear cover that is like the glass of a camera's aperture (opening). The amount of light coming in is controlled by the pupil, an opening that opens and closes a little like a camera shutter. The light focuses on the retina, a series of light-sensitive cells lining the back of the eye. And the retina acts like camera film, reacting to the incoming light and sending a record of it via the optic nerve to the brain.
Now, let's go back: did you hear what —or should I say who —controls the amount of light admitted into the eye—THE PUPIL? Think about it! The word pupil is also associated with a student. At this point, if we go biblical, the disciples were students —learners. If we are to receive anything (namely, light), we will have to avail ourselves as students and allow the Light of Life to flow into us.
The scripture says, 33 "No one takes a light and puts it under a bowl or hides it. Instead, they put it on a lampstand so that the people who come in can see." What is the light meant to do? The light is intended to give direction and instruction. The light is meant to show you where to go. Matthew 5 (the great sermon on the mount) says it plainly, "You are the light of the world. God desires that you direct people to the way, the truth, and the life. There is no other way they can go to the Father but by the Son. God desires that you instruct people in the way they should go.
God also says in Matthew, "A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." This metaphor reminds Christians of being visible examples of our faith. What light we do have in our lives is not meant to be hidden; it's meant to be seen. It's our responsibility to fill our lives with things that not only receive light but also release light. We need things like love, joy, and a peaceable spirit. We need to shed God's light and God's good on a dying, depressed, and despondent world.
Matthew 5 closes with this final instruction: "let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." As we heard earlier, the pupil determines how much light is received. We are the ones who decide how much of God we want — or don't. This is hard, but I'm going to say it: It is clear in our society that we want to be received into heaven, but we still want to live like hell.
My mind wondered, in the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus went back and forth to see if the disciples were praying, remember what he said, 'Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. What Jesus warns is: watch this, the more light you let in, the less control the flesh has. However, on the other end of the spectrum, the less light you let in, the more control you give to the flesh. Let me tell you something: walking with Jesus isn't easy; it takes a lot of sacrifice—if you want to be a lamp.
Where are the Lamps?
"34 The only source of light for the body is the eye. When you look at people and want to help them, you are full of light. But when you look at people in a selfish way, you are full of darkness. 35 So be careful! Don't let the light in you become darkness."
People say that the eye is the window to the soul. It is believed that you can look into someone's eyes and basically tell what type of person they are. Now, this is not proven; it is just said. But this saying may not be too far from the truth, because Luke sees the eye as the place where things enter, whether good or bad, and those things have an effect within us. So, let's look at those things that help us receive and release light.
Obedience to God – John says, "if you love me you will obey my commands." Do you try to obey what you learn?
Another essential aspect that helps to receive and release light is Reading and Studying God's Word. Psalm 119 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Is reading the word a daily activity for you?
What about Bible Class and Worship Service – Hebrews 10 NIV says, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." God wants us to meet together because it brings encouragement. However, if you walk in at the benediction, was that beneficial for your soul?
The last thing that helps us to receive and release light is Sunday School. Sunday school is where we truly get a foundation. Matthew 11 says, "Take my yoke, and learn of me," the NASB says, "learn from me." All of these things help obtain an excellent spiritual eye examination.
Remember, the eye is the lamp of the body. If we allow healthy things in, then healthy things will come out. But in all things where there is a positive, there is a negative. If we allow evil thoughts, sin, and selfishness; if we disobey God, if we neglect relationships by not spending time in reading and studying God's Word individually and corporately. If we play pity pat with Bible Class, Sunday school, and Worship Service, what do we expect to receive and release? Absolutely--nothing. Our bodies were designed to worship God, and the more we intentionally take in things that displease the Father, then we cannot expect to be a lamp.
I'm still asking: Where are the lamps?
36 "If you are full of light, and there is no part of you that is dark, then you will be all bright, as though you have the light of a lamp shining on you." Is Jesus – the light of the world - shining on you? Can God trust you enough to release His light through you? As I looked up the Greek words for healthy and unhealthy, I found that they also meant generous and stingy. Remember the two mothers whom I mentioned at the opening who were funeralized. One thing I deduced about Dr. Stovall is that she was healthy; she might not have been in the physical sense, as we all know, bodies will decay. Still, she knew this space suit would have to crumble and be shed, but while she was in that suit of clay, Dr. Stovall received and released the light of Christ with her time, with her talent, and with her money. And if I can give a shout-out, or should I let me also snatch or flex—Dr. Minervia Gray; she, too, was not stingy but generous. Will you have the same testimony?
I know the Lord would have me share this. The day before Minervia passed, she said to her women's study group, "Life is like a vapor," and the next day she was gone. A 39-year-old mother, in the prime of life - gone! Where are the lamps? Don't find yourself in the dark because you didn't generously submit to the will of God and his way. God wants, NO – God needs you; He needs you to let Him shine His light through you.
In 1963, a young man spoke of his grandfather, who was serving as the Senior Minister of West End United Methodist Church in Nashville. West End is situated right across the street from Vanderbilt University, and has always been a wealthy, predominantly white church.
On a communion Sunday, a black family happened to be worshipping at West End, and, like the rest of the congregation, they came forward to receive the meal. Without a sidelong thought, the young man's grandfather served them the bread and juice just as he did the rest of the congregation.
Now, as you know, the Southern U.S. in 1963 was at the height of the Civil Rights movement. And as soon as the church dismissed that day, the Administrative Board met. A few hours later, they called the young man's grandfather into the room, and though all the people of West End greatly liked the grandfather, they asked for his immediate resignation because he served communion to blacks. The grandfather told the gathered group that if that was really the way they felt, then he was not the right minister for them anyway.
You know, we are not in the '60s; however, we are in the 21st century, with many movements springing up with no light, no Word of God, no connection to Father. If I can surmise all of this in one sentence, your eye receives the light, which in turn changes you into a lamp, and then you change others.
If you want to be a world changer, if you want to have the testimony of Paul, this is the one who has turned the world upside down. If you want to make a difference, I challenge you to let your light shine, let it shine, let it shine, LET IT SHINE.
Where are the lamps?
You are the lamps!
LIFE QUOTE
“As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others.”
— Marianne Williamson
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