Once a man who signaled the junction where a road and railway track met went to sleep while on duty. At night he woke up suddenly when he heard a train approaching. The sight he saw was heart wrenching. Just as the train was approaching closer, a jeep full of people was coming closer too by the road. He did his level best to inform about the approaching train and held the signal lantern high up in the sky. All the people who were in the jeep died. Some people on the train too suffered severe injuries. The man was arrested and brought up before a judge for negligence at job. The lawyer from opposite side questioned the man and asked did you raise the signal lantern to alert the people on the jeep? The man answered yes in response, yet inside his heart he said yes I raised the signal lantern but only I know that I had forgotten to lit the lantern due to sleep. If I tell the truth I will be sentenced. The lantern which should have been lit whole night was not lit and he was sleeping while on duty. Luke 11:35, See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
In the gospel of Luke, Jesus says in 11:33-36,33 “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 is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, 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.”
It is to be noticed that Jesus says that the light we lit should be visible to those who come in. The life of a candle is so less. Yet the light from a candle can brighten up a whole room. It also helps us light several other candles and lanterns.
Lord Jesus has said that the eyes are the lamp of the body. Hence if the eyes are the unhealthy then they bring darkness within the body. In James 3:22 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. We read here that anyone who has his/her tongue in control has the body in control. Thus if the eyes and tongue are in check, then the body will be healthy always.
While walking what we pay attention to is what stays with us. It is not the sights from outside that pollute the mind. It the polluted thoughts in our mind that seek alike visuals. How careful are we in keeping our mind and body pure and in keeping the light within us from dying??? If you happen to see something that pollutes the eyes and mind and you are someone who does not like that, you will automatically distract yourself from such things. In the same way, those who like such polluted visuals and thoughts will keep coming back to them. It will stay in their mind forever. The Devil makes use of this golden opportunity. Butterflies keep hovering around seeking flowers for nectar. The moths and bugs destroy the flowers. If you want to improve your sight it will not help to get rid of your spectacles, you need to keep your heart/mind clean and pure. The best way to do that is to read the Word of God.
David’s son Amnon had a beautiful daughter Tamar(2 Samuel 13:2-14). They were born of two different mothers. Amnon was attracted by the beauty of Tamar. In his lust he disgraced and violated her. In his ardor, Amnon saw his own half sister as mere woman and not his blood relation. He forgot the relation between them. The desire of the eyes turned into the desire of the body. Amnon hence due to his act is known as a molester, name tarnished.
The example of Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples teaches us that the light within us can die anytime. Luke 22:3, 3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. Even he spent most of his time with the Son of God, he opened a window for the Devil to enter him. Judas did not succeed in receiving some light from Jesus, the light of the world. The desire for wealth and power blinded him. James 1:21-22, 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
If the oil within a lamp finishes we pour more oil into it. If a bulb is fused we replace it with a new one. Let keep the light within us burning bright by introspecting our heart, mind and soul from time to time. May the Holy Spirit strengthen each child of God in this journey. Amen.
Psalms 51:10,10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Jehovah Roi 