A lamplighter in England

LIGHTING LAMPS IN 2021!

By Helen Jesze, 5^th February 2021

“You are the light of the world. A town built 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 others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven,”

Matthew 5, 14-16

This story is told of the well-loved British Baptist preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892). Towards the end of his life he was walking one evening with a friend, up Norwood Hill, in London. Some distance in front, moving up the hill, they could see a lamplighter setting up his ladder against each lamppost, then lighting the gas lamp. The lamps shone forth in the gathering dusk, one after the other, until they disappeared over the brow of the hill. Turning to his friend, Spurgeon remarked, “I want my life to be just like that. I should like to think that when I’ve gone over the hill I shall leave lights shining behind me.”

In 2020 many people have gone ‘over the hill’ and are no longer with us, some of them very well-known personalities or preachers, some not well-known but dear to family and friends, my husband, George, was one of them. We look at the “lamps” they have lit during their lifetime, and some are still lighting lamps by leaving money in their Will to carry on God’s work after they have gone; some have written or produced resources, through which, lamps are being lit – “he being dead, yet speaketh” (Hebrews 11, 4). They have also lit ‘lamps’ in the lives of other people.

I believe God wants everyone of us to be a ‘lamp-lighter’. Whether we light a small candle, or are able to produce a huge spotlight, every light is necessary. We don’t have to push back the darkness, but when we light the lamp, it automatically disappears. As late as the 1930s, in London, almost half of the street-lamps still used gas, but these lamps only illuminated a few feet around the lamppost. Sometimes we get discouraged, thinking we cannot spread much love or positive influence, or that our light seems so small, especially during a time of lock down and not seeing many people. However, some have used this time to write books, start a business, start a Christian Charity, write encouraging blogs or their testimony on the internet, phone or write to people they have not had contact with for years.

Others have de-cluttered their house, giving away things they have not used for a long time, and blessing somebody, who might have been praying for that very article. I heard of a lady who baked sausage rolls for all her neighbours, which spread some good cheer and brought the neighbours together. Lonely people were no longer lonely, for a neigbour now often popped in to chat or lend a hand. I have also received some hand-written letters from people who normally would have emailed, but now wanted to go “old-school” and use their time to bless me with a pretty card and greetings and a ‘catch-up’.

There have been many suicides and many attempted suicides during the time of the pandemic, and so many have lost all hope. Lives, jobs and businesses have been lost and our world has been turned upside down. Christians too, can fall into depression. God sees where those people are who need a lamp of hope and love being shone on their path, and can lead us to them, if we are open to his leading. A Get Well or Sympathy card and some flowers, which can be ordered online, may light up the day of somebody who is just needing some cheer!

Another lamp we can light is by sending a donation with a loving greeting to someone in need. There may be times when you don’t even know the person has a financial need, but you are led to send something. George and I have experienced that many times, both in giving and in receiving. He used to say: “Do your giving while you’re living, Then you’re knowing where it’s going!” Very true!

Just as the gas-lamps were taken over by the new development of electricity, for which we are all very grateful, so God can cause us to develop in creativity, influence and opportunity to be able to light more or bigger ‘lamps’.

“There’s a song that only YOU can sing” was written on a card I received, and I would like to add, “There’s a lamp that only YOU can light!”

So be encouraged to light some lamps in 2021! Let’s get busy and start lighting some TODAY!