The following is a parable I found about candles:
One night during a blackout I fumbled to the closet where we keep the candles for nights like this. I lit four of them. I was turning to leave with one of the large candles in my hand when I heard it say: “Now, hold it right there.” I lifted up the candle to take a closer look when it said. “Don’t take me out of here! Don’t take me out of this room.” “What do you mean?” I said. “I have to take you out. You’re a candle. Your job is to give light and it’s dark out there. You’re light is needed.” “But you can’t take me out. I’m not ready,” the candle explained with a pleading voice. “I need more preparation.” I couldn’t believe my ears! “More preparation?” “Yes” came the reply. “I’ve decided I need to research this job of light-giving so I won’t go out and make a bunch of mistakes. You’d be surprised how distorted the glow of an untrained candle can be.” Well, I thought to myself. You’re not the only candle on the shelf. I’ll blow you out and take the others!
But right then I heard three other voices, “We aren’t going either!” I turned to the other candles, “But you’re candles, your job is to light dark places!” “Well, that may be what you think,” said the first one, “But I’m busy – I’m meditating on the importance of light. It’s really en-lightening.” Then a short, fat, purple candle spoke up. “I’m waiting to get my life together, I’m not stable enough.” Then the last candle spoke up. “I’d like to help” it explained, “but lighting the darkness isn’t my gift – I’m a singer. I’ll sing to the other candles to encourage them to burn more brightly.” It began a rendition of “This Little Light of Mine.” Soon the other three joined in, filling the closet with singing.
I took a step back and considered the absurdity of it all. Four perfectly usable candles singing to each other about light but refusing to come out of the closet and provide light.
As parables go, it sounds a bit silly doesn’t it? I mean, whoever heard of a candle refusing to be used? For that matter, whoever heard of a talking candle! Still, the story makes a good point – doesn’t it?
Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16, “14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Clearly, the candles in this parable are meant to represent Christians. Think about it: our purpose is to carry the light of the Gospel to the world around us. But, we all know that there are always some Christians that find it too easy to keep their Christianity hidden within the walls of the church building. They are a lot like those “candles in the closet” who don’t want to come out! They have a whole lot of excuses! Excuses like: God can’t use me yet, because I still have too many problems in my life but once I get my life straightened out, then God can use me – OR – Once I know enough then I’ll give it a try!
Every Christian must be willing to be used by God. This is not to say that everyone is going to be as bright as an LED. That’s because everyone is gifted in different ways. Some are small candles and some are BIG candles. Most of us are just “regular” “joe & jane average” candles. Yet, it doesn’t matter the candle size or style because they all have the potential to give off light. It all starts with us being willing to be used by God. Once we’re willing to be used by God, then there are countless ways that God can use each and everyone of us to be shining lights in the darkness around us.
