“Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”
Zechariah 4:1-3 NIV
If you had unlimited fuel how far could you go? Apparently this question came into play rather early in aviation history as the creation of the aerial refuel was mastered. I watched a video the other day of an F-16 Falcon fighter jet being refueled by the massive K-135 Stratotanker in mid-air. Aerial refueling is in itself a marvel to watch, but considering I watched the process take place at 30,000 feet and a speed of 374 mph, made the feat even more impressive. But at the core of aerial refueling is a base concept that satisfies the obvious. If a plane has unlimited fuel, it has unlimited reach. And unlimited capabilities according to the design of its creator. An F-16 that once had a maximum range of 2600 miles, with unlimited fuelings, can now easily circle the globe. And as we analyze and ponder this concept of global reach using the art of aerial refueling, I cannot help but extend the idea to the Christian walk. And it brings to mind a parallel question, what could you do for God’s kingdom if you had an unlimited refueling of His power?
The prophetic book of Zechariah is rivaled only by Daniel and Revelation in its visions, symbology, and overall imagery. God speaks to His prophet through angels, floating chariots, colored horses, and even flying scrolls. But here in chapter 4 we find an image that should be very familiar to those students of the first five books of the Bible, also called the Pentateuch. More specifically the book of Exodus. And it is the image of the golden lampstand. As God commanded His people to build a tabernacle (dwelling) for Him in the book of Exodus, He gave them very specific dimensions and worship pieces to include in it, one of them being the lampstand. The lampstand had seven heads fed by channels that would emit light as it burned pure, clear olive oil that was obtained from beaten olives. But the interesting thing is how the lampstand received its fuel in Exodus. The priests of the tabernacle were instructed with this in Exodus 27:21, “Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.” Folks, if you’ve ever fed an oil lamp while camping, can you imagine keeping enough oil on hand to keep it going for generations?
A big part of the priest’s life in the old testament was the preparation and filling of the Holy oil in the lampstands. And each day there was a ritual of keeping the lights going before the Lord. So you might be asking, what’s the big deal with the oil and the lamps Dan? Well, the light of those flames represents the presence of God and the oil represents no less than the very Holy Spirit of God. Pretty big stuff, huh? And just why did God show Zechariah this particular image of the lampstand, especially with the two olive trees? Well imagine the idea of instead of filling that lampstand by hand every single day, that instead it was fed directly by the source. Unlimited fuel. And just a few verses later God tells us what happens when the light of God is fed perpetually and eternally by the Holy Spirit of God…the power and purpose of God’s mission no longer lies within the limited power and might of man…but with the unlimited power and might of God’s Holy Spirit.
“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.” Zechariah 4:6b
Besides actual salvation through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the single biggest gift this world has ever witnessed is the gifting of God’s Holy Spirit. Every single person that in great faith calls upon the name of Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, is in that moment anointed with the very Holy Spirit of God. But if you, like me, are a follower of Jesus, you notice that you are not filling up a lampstand every day to be able to boldly display the light of Jesus in your life. And it is in this epiphany that you will notice one of the single biggest refueling operations the world has ever witnessed. As Zechariah’s vision showed him that the lampstand was not fed oil by human hands any longer, but directly from two olive trees on the right and the left, this vision of God allowed the world a view of what it means to be truly fueled by God in an endless and unlimited supply.
Today, if you have been saved by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, you have an endless supply of fuel for your lamp. You have been gifted with the very Holy Spirit of God. And just why does God see fit to gift us with such an unbelievably powerful tool? Well, to do the work He created us to do. I pray that today you are graciously receiving God’s fuel to see to it that your hands and feet are moving readily for Him. That you are eagerly and boldly giving out the truth of His Word to a world that has lost sight of His pure unchangeable truth. That you are modeling the actions of Christ each and every day, utilizing the spiritual gifts you have received to build up the body and bless others in need. That you are using that unlimited fuel to go farther for Jesus, travel more for God, and see His truth proclaimed as far as He will take your feet. And today, if you find yourself feeling empty and not able to do more, go more, or tell more, remember where your fuel is coming from…the illustrious and eternally bountiful olive trees of God. For they are ever ready to fill your lamp to overflowing so that you can burn brightly and shine into a world that so desperately needs the light of Christ.
May your light burn brightly for Jesus Christ today my brothers and sisters ~ Dan
“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:5
“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 5:15-16
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