Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Lamp on a Stand (Matthew 5:14-16, Mark 4:21-22, Luke 8:16-17,11:33) (01/11/24)
-
TITLE: No Greater Light | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jack Taylor
01/16/24 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
But it’s amazing what you find in the junk removal business. The owner stood by as my buddy and I hauled out a chest of drawers. “How long have you been married?” I asked.
“Ten years,” he said. “It’s time for an upgrade and the attic is filled.”
“Looks like those lamps never had a chance to shine,” I continued.
He glanced at the two forgotten gifts. “They didn’t fit with the look my wife was going for. Probably should have taken them back but I didn’t want to insult whoever gave them to us.”
“So, you couldn’t accept their light because they didn’t fit your image of what light should look like?”
“Something like that. What’s it to you?”
“I’m just reminded of a story,” I said. “Do you mind if I share it at our next break?”
He looked around. “Looks like we have the bicycle, boots, couch, chairs, and the lamps left. Why don’t you tell it to me now?’
“It’s a story about the greatest man who ever lived. And maybe some lamps that don’t fit.”
“Okay, so what does this guy have to do with lamps that get thrown out?”
“Glad you asked.” I picked up the lamps and set them on the back of the truck. “It so happens that a long time ago, in a place far away, there lived an army officer who knew how to love and care for his men. One of the lowest of those who served him became sick and was ready to die.”
“Sounds like an unusual man. No officer I met in the army cared that much about us.”
“I see you are a man of insight. There’s more to all this because this officer was a foreigner and part of an occupying force.” I leaned back against the tailgate and slowly unwrapped one of the lamps. “This unusual army officer heard that the greatest man who ever lived was in the area and so he sent some of his men as messengers to get his attention. You see, he knew something about this man that others didn’t consider.”
“What was that?”
I unwrapped the other lamp. “The great man was also a healer, a physician of the mind, body, and soul.”
“I still don’t understand what this has to do with these lamps?”
I crumpled the paper, nodded, and set the two lamps closer together. “These men were not only loved by their commander. They loved him back. When they came to the greatest man who ever lived, the healer, they begged for his help. ‘Our commander deserves this,’ they said. ‘He’s done so much for our community. What he’s done for us sets him apart. No other foreigners have treated us this way.’”
The owner slumped down on a chair on his front lawn. “If this guy was so great, he’s probably too busy to go chasing after nobodies.”
“You’d think so,” I said. “Instead, he dropped everything on his schedule and went with the messengers.”
The man rose and shook his head. “So, he proved to be a bright light. Not much of a story.”
“It’s not over.” I stepped toward him and knelt on the grass. “While they were on the way, some of the officer’s friends intercepted them. ‘Don’t take any more time out of your schedule,” he said. I don’t deserve your presence in my place. I know I am not even worthy to come and see you for myself. If you could just say the word, I know that things will change for this man I care for. I’m a man under authority and I have those under authority to me. We embrace the authority you bring.”
"The greatest man who ever lived stopped right where he was. 'Did you see this bright and shining lamp of faith?' he asked. 'This is the brightest light of faith in the whole land.'”
“So?”
“So, the people of the land didn’t believe that a foreigner could even have a light worth looking at.”
“But this great man saw what others didn’t. What happened to the sick man?”
“He was healed.”
“You’d think that he would be the light.”
“Yes. Two worthless lights shone that day.”
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.