John hears Jesus.
“I turned to see whose was speaking to me, and when I did so, I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the middle of the lampstands was one like a son of man.” Revelation 1:12 – 13, NET. Jesus portrays the churches as lampstands. Why? The seven congregations to which Jesus referred are a part of the Christian Church; therefore, the letter to the churches applies to the whole of Christianity. Second, John was the Bishop of the seven congregations to which Jesus refers. Third, the Church is the body of Christ. Jesus Christ has one body; therefore, there is only one Church. Colossians 1:18, 24. Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. “I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness.” John 12:46, NET.
Therefore, the Church, the body of Christ, must function as a lampstand from which the Light to the world, Jesus Christ, would shine in the darkness. Each believer within the body of Christ should be a lampstand from which the Light that came into the world would shine brightly. In this way, each congregation would illuminate its surroundings with Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the world. If all the congregations were to be the lampstands from which the Light of the world shines, the combined Light would illuminate the entire world. If Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, were to be proclaimed to the world by all believers, there would not be divisions and hatred among the members of the body of Christ.
The Christian churches and congregations, as lampstands, should not let doctrines, teachings, and traditions, unique to them, shine to their surroundings. The body of Christ should not be the lampstand from which light of a particular Denomination shines. The world is to see Jesus Christ and not an exemplary congregation. The members of the body of Christ should reflect Jesu to the world, not exemplary Christians. Exemplary Christians are not the light of the world. Being an exemplary Christian, full of good deeds, is of no value if Christ is not visible to the world. “Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5, NET. Therefore, each yielded believer must reflect this Light, Jesus Christ, so that the world would not have an excuse for remaining in darkness.
Jesus knows and sees his Church; read the next blog.
