A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers     

John 3:19, “Light has come into the world.” There it sits in one of the book cases in my study. Solid brass. On the bottom, the words are engraved: “Made in U.S.A., Patented, Universal Lamp Co. Springfield, Ill.” Nowadays it’s difficult to find much that is still made in the U.S.A. After some research I discovered the company produced over 9,000,000 of these from 1913 to 1960, when the company ceased manufacturing. This treasure is my father’s carbide light that he used in the coal mines for years. Prior to the introduction of battery powered miner’s lights, the cap-mounted carbide light provided illumination for underground miners. Water in the top chamber dripped onto calcium carbide in the lower chamber producing acetylene gas, which was ignited by a flint mounted on the lamp’s reflector. My father used to tell me how surprisingly bright the light was when one was underground, in the pitch black darkness of a coal mine. Also surprising, was how much warmth one little flame could produce in the damp, cold air of the mines. How can one little flame make so much difference? Quite simply, where there is the total absence of light, one small flame has an incredible impact. 2000 years ago, one small flame pierced the veil of darkness that enveloped this world. Centuries had passed since the last Old Testament prophet had faded away. Then, from a stable, in a little village off the beaten path—Bethlehem—a teenage mother gave birth, and lay the little baby boy in a manger—an animal feeding trough. The flint was struck. The lamp began burning. The darkness was pushed back. What a difference one little flame makes. In Matthew 5:14, Jesus reminds us that now we “are the light of the world.” If you want to fully appreciate the impact of your single flame, adopt a family in your community; minister to someone who has given up on life, about the precious grace of God; volunteer at a homeless or spouse abuse shelter; serve at a local nursing home; participate in a jail or prison ministry; participate in a Gideon’s ministry. As John wrote in our Scripture lesson today, “Light has come into the world.” Now, that light continues to burn through each of us, as we continue to push back the darkness and bring those to whom we minister into His light of a bright new day.