Keepers of the Light

The Cape Florida Lighthouse at Key Biscayne, Florida has been preserved along with a house that the light keeper and his family would have lived in.  The job description for the "Keeper of the Light" is on the wall of the house.  As I read about the duties of the light keepers, I was reminded that they are like the duties of the priests in the temple and the responsibility of those of us who carry the light of God within us.  
 
For the Light Keeper, self-sacrifice, loyalty and dedication to the care of the light and the property around it were of utmost importance.  Here are some of the duties of the Keeper of the Light:

• Prepare the oil for the lamps
• Clean and fill the lamps with oil
• Trim the wicks of the lens lamps or replace burned wicks
• Clean and polish the lenses
• Maintain equipment and structures in good repair

The priests who served in the tabernacle and temple had similar requirements:

• "They made the lampstand of pure gold...They made its seven lamps, as well as its wick trimmers and trays, of pure gold." (Exodus 37:17, 23)
• "Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually." (Leviticus 24:2)
• "The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes, then Aaron presented them as a wave offering before the Lord and made atonement for them to purify them." (Numbers 8:21)
• "The priests went into the sanctuary of the Lord to purify it..." (2 Chronicles 29:16)

As royal priests before the Lord, we also have the responsibility to be Keepers of the Light--the light of the Holy Spirit:

• "Jesus said, 'You are the light of the world.  A city on the hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)
• "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)
• "...Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.)" (Ephesians 5:8-9)

As Keepers of the Light we must be mindful of the season we are in.  Both Chanukah (beginning at sundown tonight—the 25th of Kislev) and Christmas, on the 25th of December, are marked by light.  Isn't it interesting that they occur during a time of greatest darkness, when the nights are longer than the days?  Chanukah is about the miracle of light when the Menorah in the temple burned for 8 full days without enough oil to do this. However, the most important thing to remember is that God came to shine His light of love and provision on His people.  Likewise, the light of the star of Bethlehem directed the wise men to a greater light—the light of Messiah.  We live in a time of increasing darkness.  The world needs to see the light of Messiah in us.  This season resolve to shine the light of Jesus brightly so that those around us see the love of God.  We must ask Holy Spirit to set us ablaze!