No one can deny the fact that we live in a dark world. It’s scary out there, and we in the church have a tendency to huddle together and stay inside. But our world doesn’t have to stay dark. Picture a dark room. It’s pitch black, until one person lights a candle. Then that person lights the candle of the person next to him, and the next person does the same, and so forth. Before long, the room isn’t so dark anymore. The impact of just one candle can be incredible.
The church described in Acts 4 understood this concept. When one person had a need, they did everything – they gave up everything – in order to meet it. “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need” (verse 35). To return to our analogy, those who had lit candles gave light to those whose candles were out. They gave what was needed out of what they had.
This is a picture of what the church should be. Every time we give of ourselves to meet the needs of someone else, whether the need is physical, emotional, or spiritual, we are presenting a picture of Christ. He did everything – gave up everything – in order to meet our needs. He has met our needs and given us the ability to do the same for others. You might think that what you can do won’t truly make a difference. But your candle has been lit by Christ, the light of the world. He died and rose again to give you the opportunity to share your Light with others. You’re just one candle, but you can be a part of the chain started by Christ to light up the world.