Hannukah, Dedication, LIGHT*

Hannukah, the Feast of Dedication, also called the Festival of Lights, is not one of the original feasts of the LORD as given in scripture, but it was proclaimed a feast by Judah Maccabee after the cleansing and dedication of the temple which had been defiled by heathens. Part of tht dedication was the lighting of the Lamp in the temple. The account of the cleansing and dedication of the temple is found in the Apocrypha in the Book of 1 Maccabees. This feast is still kept by the Jews, and was also kept by Jesus: "And it was at Jerusalem the feast of dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch." (Jn. 10:22-23). It was at this time that certain Jews demanded of Jesus to say outright if He was the Christ. Jesus answered,"I told you, and ye believe not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (v. 25-28). As Jesus described those who believe in Him, He said, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Mt. 5:14-16). Believers in Christ are supposed to dwell in His light. That light is to shine outward for all to see. That light testifies of our works. Is your light shining? Jesus, in the same passage, described the believers in Him as the salt of the earth. However, Jesus said, salt that has lost its savor, or taste, is no longer good for the purpose it was intended. The same applies to our light. The Apostle Peter described the believers in Christ as those who have been called out of darkness into His marvellous light: a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people (1 Pet. 2:9). We are defined by the light of Christ. First John says that we are to walk in the light even as Christ is in the light, and as His blood cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, John continues, then we are liars, and the truth is not in us (1:7-8). If we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive them, and cleanse us. This is walking in the light. The temple in Jerualem had to be cleansed and dedicated in the original Hannukah account. We are a living temple, and that cleansing and dedication is necessary for us all as well. Have you cleansed your temple? Have you dedicated yourself? Paul discussed the seasons and times, and how we should all be familiar with them. He said that we aal should know that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. When men are declaring, "Peace, peace", sudden destruction will come upon them. He reminded the Church of the role that the light of Christ plays in our preparedness and understanding, "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober...For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ..." (1 Thess. 5:1-9, excerpt). We are not meant to be sleeping. Jesus told the parable of the ten virgins, and ALL ten had fallen asleep. The only thing that allowed five of them (who were wise) to enter in with the bridegroom, is that they had their lamps well prepared, and more thaan enough oil to keep their light. Paul wrote that the wrath of God would come upon the children of disobedience, and warned, "Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light...And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them...all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light". He added quoting Isaiah, "...Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light" (Eph. 5:6-14). As Jesus told the parable of the wheat and the tares, He explained that the good seed, the wheat, "are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one". At the end of the age, Jesus said, both the wheat and the tares would be gathered, or harvested, by the angels. The tares, the children of the wicked one, those who offend and do iniquity, will be cast into a furnace of fire with much suffering and wailing. However, of the good wheat, the children of the kingdom, Jesus said, "Then the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Mt. 13:36-43). Are we willing to hear the revelation of Jesus, or will we stop up our ears against it? Do not be deceived, heaven is real. Hell is also real, and to be avoided at all costs. The righteous shining like the sun, as Jesus taught, is a promise prophesied in Daniel. Daniel's prophecy is of the time of trouble like as has never been seen before. This time of trouble takes place in "the time of the end". Daniel also spoke of a judgment of the dead: "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Though the times will be very difficult, there will be a difference seen in those who are children of the kingdom. Daniel wrote, "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." Daniel was told to seal up his book until the time of the end (Dan. 12). We now read and understand these visions and prophecies of Daniel, which is yet another identifier that we are in those end times of which Daniel wrote. Are you shining, as Daniel prophesied of the wise? The lights of the Menorah are lighted to recall the cleansing and dedication of the temple after it had been defiled. The light is to be kept shining. The saints are equipped by apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists to do the work of the ministry. Shining the light of Christ into the darkness is a large part of that work. Is your lamp filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit? Are you shining with His light? *Based upon the 12/13/20 message of Dr. Stevenson to the Church. To contact: PO Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 or Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com Find Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson on Facebook and twitter also.