Robert Louis Stevenson spent most of his life suffering from the debilitating complications of tuberculosis. In his poem, “The Lamplighter,” he reflects on one of his boyhood dreams. On winter evenings he would watch the lamplighter making his way up and down the street near his home lighting street lamps.
Stevenson watched him as he climbed his ladder at each lamp post, leaving a glow behind that pierced the darkness. He experienced a thrill every time the lamplighter passed his door, for he always paused to give him a friendly smile. Challenged by this childhood experience he wrote these words in one of his poems:
“But I, when I am stronger and can choose what I’m to do,
O Leerie, I’ll go round at night and light the lamps with you!”
When I reflect on Stevenson’s childhood dream I become aware of how much darkness we have in our world today. The causes of this darkness are many – hatred, prejudice, greed, lust, selfishness, complacency, disappointment, sorrow, and various other kinds and levels of trouble or difficulty. God has a plan for piercing darkness in our world, and it is given by Jesus, God’s Son, to every Christian.
Are you a Christian? If so, this is what Christ wants you to know: “A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:4b-16).
Ask yourself the following questions:
- What am I doing to pierce the darkness of my community?
- Have I offered a word of hope to those who are discouraged?
- Have I shared the load of even one person who is burdened?
- Have I prayed for anyone who has experienced loss or grief?
- Have I shared my faith with even one person who is not a Christian?
Jesus walked away from the carpenter shop at the age of 30 with a burning passion to transform a divided world into a brotherhood of love. His dreams were noble and His purpose was pure. He drew large crowds and was accepted by multitudes of people. Then hostility against Him grew into open opposition. The crowds dwindled, and the voices against Him became louder and more threatening. His own family failed to understand Him. While others turned back He kept on going. He walked toward the cross with a steady step.
“Because He was faithful unto death, “God has given Him a name that is above every name, a name at which one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). He who said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12) also said, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14a). Every Christian is called to be a lamplighter!
A lamplighter must believe three things: (1) That God is Creator of the universe; (2) That God provides eternal life to those who accept His Son as Savior and Lord; and (3) That every person who follows Christ should “let his or her light shine.”
In other words, as the old gospel song says, “Brighten the corner where you are!”
The Paper Pulpit 
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