I’m sure we all know what it is like to be beaten or even beaten up. The result can be the same. Sometimes it’s one blow after another or the slow grind of carrying too much for too long. We come out of those seasons battered, yet something beautiful may emerge.
God’s answer is written into the furniture of His house.
“Make a lampstand of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. 32 Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. 33 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. 34 And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. 35 One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. 36 The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold. 37 “Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. 38 Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold. 39 A talent of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories. 40 See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” (Exodus 25 v 31-40)
The Holy Place was wrapped in layers of curtains and skins. Once the priest stepped inside, the daylight was shut out.
The only light came from a pure gold lampstand.
The light of God’s house came from something struck again and again, hammering the mould and beating it into the right shape. The One who said “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12) did not shine for us without first being beaten. Our light comes from His wounds.
Centuries later, at the Feast of Tabernacles, when lamps were lit in the temple courts, Jesus stood up and spoke:
‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12)
In 1940, Britain faced what is often called its darkest hour, a time of fear and uncertainty about the future. It can feel as though the Church is in its darkest hour today. Or is it?
Today can feel like it is your darkest hour. Or is it?
This isn’t the first time John uses the image of light (John 1:4-9), and it was already deeply rooted in the Jewish mind. Israel was called to be “a light for the Gentiles” (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6). So imagine the offense when Jesus took a calling given to Israel and claimed it for Himself.
Many lights come into the world, and we ourselves are called to shine brightly. But the brightest and truest light is Jesus. He shines today in the darkest places around the world. His light leads the way and exposes the darkness.
Israel was meant to be the light, but its light grew dim, and the people walked in darkness. Jesus came as the true light. Where Israel failed, He succeeded. He exposed their darkness, and the leaders didn’t like it. That began the fight between the darkness and the light, and we know the Light won.
The Church faces significant challenges today. We need Jesus more than ever, and we need His light so that we don’t become dark ourselves.
Let’s stay in the light. Beaten gold gives the brightest light.
