By Felix Ngunjiri Gichuri

Reading: “The word of God is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” (Ps 119:105 [KJV])

The Bible is very clear that the word of God is like a lamp and also like a light; “a lamp unto my feet” at night and “a light to my path” by day.

The Word of God Can Be a Lamp unto Our Feet to Illuminate for us Where to Step on Lest We Stumble

The word of God can illuminate for us where to step on lest we stumble. “And your ears will hear a word from behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21 AMPC)

Middle Easterners used to Hang the Lamp Next to Their Feet to Illuminate the Path They Were Walking on During the Night

The Psalmist likened the word of God to a lamp that was carried by those who were walking during the night those days. Just as we walk with a lamp when going for a long journey that will take days and nights to reach our destination, likewise we should be walking with the word of God in our hands meditating upon it day and night and the Bible says that we shall make our way prosperous. “This book of the law (the word of God) shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8 [KJV])

People of the east during the days of the Psalmist used to travel on foot for long distances. There were no street lights and people used to carry lamps or lanterns where the lamp would be held by one hand and hang next to the feet to illuminate the part of the path the pedestrian was walking on. The lamp was very handy as it helped the person to see a ditch or stone or tree stump or log or garbage or even a serpent in time to avoid stepping on that form of danger. The lamp would therefore save you from danger. The lamp has a wick that burns after tapping into the oil in the lamp cistern or lamp tank.

The Lamps used Olive Oil Energy to Produce Light

Israelites in the wilderness used pure olive oil for the lamps to burn and give light. Moses was told by God to “command the Israelites to bring you pure oil from crushed olives for the light, in order to keep the lamp burning continually.” (Exod 27:20 [HCSB]) In the tabernacle, each of the flower-shaped cups held a measure of olive oil and a cloth wick. Like ancient pottery oil lamps, its wick became saturated with oil, was lit, and gave off a small flame. Aaron and his sons, who were designated priests, were to keep the lamps burning continually

Oil is a Symbol of the Holy Spirit

Oil, in the Old Testament, is frequently used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Kings and priests were anointed with oil as a sign of their consecrated (and, supposedly, Spirit-filled) lives. Zechariah, the prophet, was shown a vision of a great golden lampstand with two olive trees standing beside it. The trees dripped oil into the bowls of the lampstand, and Zechariah was told: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). “These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.” (Revelation 11:4 [HCSB]) The oil symbolized the Spirit of God by which the light of testimony could be maintained in the hour of darkness. Without the Holy Spirit in our lives to guide us into all truth, then we are not condemned, but when we walk without the Holy Spirit (symbolized by the Oil), then we are condemned for we are walking by the flesh, according to our own understanding and effort. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Rom 8:1-2 [KJV]) “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Rom 8:3-11 [KJV])

The Word of God, like a Lamp, Shows us the Way

 The lamp shows the pedestrian the immediate place to step on. The word of God is being likened to a lamp that shows you the way. Jesus is the word of God that created everything in heaven and on earth. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4 [KJV]) “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths” (Prov 3:5-6 [KJV]) because He is the way.

The Word of God can be Light unto our Path to Show us the Way Lest we Get Lost

The word of God can also be a light to our path leading us to our destination so that we do not get lost along the way. The word of God led the Israelites through the wilderness in form of pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. “Now the LORD was going before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them in the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel day or night.” (Exodus 13:21 [NET])

The Devil is the Prince of Darkness

Satan is called the prince of darkness. Prince means ruler or first ruler.  Jesus is called the light of the world. Jesus is the light of the world of light while satan is the prince of world of darkness. The word darkness in Hebrew is the same root word as ignorance. The word light is the same root word as foreknowledge or original knowledge. When we talk about darkness and light, we are talking about ignorance and light. The word darkness in Hebrew means ignorance while the word light in Hebrew means knowledge, that is the reason we are always referring to God as light. Light is a substance that has energy while darkness is the absence of light. The word darkness means ignorance or lack of knowledge thus our enemy the devil is called the prince of darkness because he can only operate in that area where we are ignorant of the promises of god for us. Satan is a prince, a ruler of this world. “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”  (2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV) “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1–2  (John 3:17 [KJV])

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” (John 3:18-21 [KJV])

Satan is the prince of ignorance. He rules by your ignorance. Where you have ignorance, that is where he has power over you.

Our Greatest Enemy is Ignorance

That’s why God never said that your greatest enemy is satan and He never said that your greatest problem is sin. Religion says that our greatest problems are satan and sin. God tells us where our problems come from in the book of Hosea 4:6 that “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (Hos 4:6 [KJV]) In other words, ignorance is our greatest problem. It all depends on whose promises you wait on because the one you wait upon controls or rules you at any one time whether it is the prince of darkness or Jesus Christ the knowledge of God. “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom (wisdom is applied knowledge) of God.” (1Cor 1:22-24 [KJV])

God is Light and in Him there is no Darkness at all

 “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:5-7).

Jesus Christ is the Light of the World

Jesus is the light of the world. John 8:12 records, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life.’” The allegory used by the Lord in this verse speaks of the light of His Truth, the light of His Word, the light of eternal Life. Those who perceive the true Light will never walk in spiritual darkness. “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12) is the second of seven “I AM” declarations of Jesus, recorded only in John’s gospel, that point to His unique divine identity and purpose. In declaring Himself to be the Light of the world, Jesus was claiming that He is the exclusive source of spiritual light. No other source of spiritual truth is available to mankind. Jesus being “the light of the world” means that that one day this world will be filled with this light as the waters cover the sea, and all darkness, and all the works of darkness, and all the sons of darkness will be cast out. That’s why Jesus called hell “outer darkness” (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30). In this world, one is either in light or in darkness. In that day, all will be light. Jesus, the radiance of the Father, will fill the world, and everything will be beautiful with the light of Christ.

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14)

That means he is the knowledge that the world needs, the knowledge of who God is in His glory and power and authority. Jesus is the power and the wisdom (applied knowledge) of God. “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1Cor 1:24 [KJV]) After He resurrected and rose to heaven He sent His Holy Spirit to be our light to guide us into all truth. In short, if Christ is not ruling your life, then someone else is and that is definitely the devil.

Jesus Christ, The True Light for Every One Who Believes

If there is no light for your path, you will stumble and fall. You will stumble because there is no light to show you the ditch or object to avoid dashing your foot against. Those who do not acknowledge Jesus as their way, their truth and their life are in spiritual darkness and they are groping in spiritual darkness in this world that is full of darkness. John the apostle said that Jesus is that “Light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:5, NASB) “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which gives light to every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:” (John 1:6-12 [KJV]) He has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9) so that we shine as spiritual lights in a wicked world of darkness and sin. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16, KJV)

Jesus Christ is the Way, the Only Way to Our Father in Heaven

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Jesus Christ being the way will not only show you the safe place to step on with your feet but He will light up the path ahead of you so that you will be able to see clearly the correct path to choose in case you reach a junction or cross ways.

You can imagine walking on a path in your journey and Jesus joins you as your lamp for protection from danger and a light to shine on your way as He takes you to the promised land. If we follow Him in righteousness, He will take us to our destination. The destiny of man is to go to heaven but we do not know the way to heaven. If we follow Him, He will take us to the Father in heaven.  “Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas said unto him, Lord, we know not whether you go; and how can we know the way? Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:1-6 [KJV])

Jesus’s statement that ‘No one comes to the Father except through me’ means that Jesus is the only way we humans can connect or relate to God.

Christ is the only way of access unto the Father. First of all, ‘no one comes to the Father except through me’ means that Jesus is the only way through which mankind should worship God. That is, humanity can serve God only through Jesus Christ. And also, God shall reckon a person as a true worshipper only if he is a staunch follower of Jesus.

Secondly, ‘no one comes to the Father except through me’ means that Jesus is the only way we humans can connect or relate to God. No good relationship would come between sinful mankind and a Holy God without Jesus Christ. This saying of Jesus in John 14:6 agrees with other Scriptures such as John 1:12, which says: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

Thirdly, ‘no one comes to the Father except through me’ means that Jesus is the only way to salvation. Salvation is a state – it is a state that is built and maintained by many spiritual blessings such as forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, justification, etc. To receive all these blessings from God the Father, you have no option other than to plead in the name of His Son Jesus. For it is also written that except through Jesus’ name, there is no other name under heaven through which man shall be saved (Acts 4:12)

Lastly, ‘no one comes to the Father except through me’ means that Jesus is the only way to heaven. No one, irrespective of his religious pursuit, can go to heaven without being a follower of Jesus. All religious people – Christians, Muslims, Hinduists, etc. – believe in the afterlife and believe in a realm of peace, joy, a blissful life, etc. which is popularly called heaven where the faithful worshippers of the true God would dwell together with God for eternity. John 14:6 affirms that without Christ, no man will have entry to heaven.

Cornelius was a Good Roman Soldier who God wanted him Saved

Acts 10:1-48 talks about a good man by the name Cornelius, a Roman centurion. Romans did not know nor worship the one true God. Yet they were religious people devoted to deities such as Apollo, Jupiter, etc. Cornelius was different; he lived among the Jews in Caesarea and got to know the one true God, the God of Israel, and he neglected his native gods to serve the living God.  

Cornelius was God Fearing but not Saved, and God in Heaven Got Concerned

The Bible described Cornelius as devout, god-fearing, prayerful, and a generous alms giver. In the eyes of men, Cornelius was a good man. If Cornelius was alive today, many Christians would have thought Cornelius was saved. Wrong! There is no salvation without Christ. All the deeds of godliness that Cornelius did were not able to bring him salvation, neither was it enough to save him irrespective of the extent to which he did them.

However, Cornelius’ good deeds and prayer were remembered in heaven; that is to say, God was moved to do something in Cornelius’ life because of his good deeds. So He had Cornelius send for Peter who preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to him. And while Peter was preaching, Cornelius and his household believed for their salvation. And God immediately baptized them in the Holy Spirit and they spoke in tongues which serve as a token that they have been saved indeed.

Think about it: Cornelius was already a good man; so why the need for God to send His angel to him to ensure that he would hear the gospel? And why the need to believe in Jesus Christ? God could see in Cornelius that he had a heart willing to serve God faithfully, but he was not saved, neither did he know the right way to connect to God. Hence, He intervened and led him to Christ, His Son. So, despite all his good deeds and piety, Cornelius had to believe in Jesus to be saved and to have a Father-Son relationship with God. The salvation of Cornelius is a piece of evidence to prove that no one comes to the Father except through Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the Ladder that Jacob saw Leading to Heaven.

Jesus is the ladder that Jacob saw leading to heaven. Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:47-51) Jesus reveals to Nathaniel that He is the ladder that Jacob saw in a dream reaching to heaven.  He is the one that bridges the gap between God and Men.  No one sees God apart from the way that God has made. You will never reach God. You will never please God. You will never even see God apart from going through Jesus Christ. Jesus has come to rescue us and restore us to a right relationship with God because He is the way to the Father.

Jesus Christ was made the Propitiation for our Sins to open Heaven Doors for Believers

No good relationship would come between sinful man and a Holy God without Jesus. It is only through Jesus and His sacrificial death on the cross that we now have direct access to both Him and His Father in heaven. Hebrews 10:19 claims, “We have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus.” He took our humanity, and shared in our suffering — to the point of shedding his own blood — that he, being without sin, might “make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17). Jesus is our substitute. He died the death we deserved for our sin. To make propitiation means to satisfy the wrath of God we deserved because of our rebellion against him in our sin. The righteous wrath Jesus propitiated as our substitute was the punishment that we deserved. Without his sacrificial action, and our claim to his blood to cover our sins, we would have no warrant for approaching the holy God in prayer. And so, when we pray in Jesus’s name, we acknowledge not only his fellow humanity and suffering, but also his blood shed for us as our substitute. And He will come for them who believe in Him to take us to the Father in heaven. After preparing a place for us who believe in Him, He will come again, and receive us unto Himself; so that where He is, we may be also. If only we believe, then we shall have direct access to heaven to meet our Father in heaven.

The Lord Our Shepherd Leads Us in The Paths of Righteousness

 God will show you the paths of righteousness so that you walk in His ways. David said that the Lord is our Shepherd who restores our souls and leads us in the paths of righteousness. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:1, 3 [KJV]) Jesus Christ clarified that He is the Good shepherd who leads His sheep to green pastures and protects His sheep from thieves who may come to steal, kill and destroy the sheep. The Good Shepherd who brings the sheep home after a day of being grazed in green pastures. “But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper openeth the door only; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” (John 10:2-5 [KJV]) “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:10-11 [KJV]) “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” (John 10:14 [KJV])

The Lord guides us to save us out of the valley of the shadow of death so that we can thank Him and worship Him and glorify His name for His goodness.

Jesus Christ if He is Your Lord and Your God Will Lead You in Paths of Righteousness

He will shine your way, dispatch angels to protect you: some of them ahead of you, others behind you, above you, below you, lest you dash your foot against a stone as He wards off demons that may be lurking by the side of the road. “Because you have made the LORD — my refuge, the Most High — your dwelling place, no harm will come to you; no plague will come near your tent. For He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways. They will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the young lion and the serpent.” (Psalm 91:9-13 [HCSB])

Christ will Upgrade Your Path to a Highway of Holiness so that you walk together with Him

Your path shall then be upgraded from being a path to a highway if not a super highway; a highway to holiness. “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be reserved for those authorized to use it. Fools will not stray into it. No lion (or enemy) shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk therein:” (Isaiah 35:8-9 [KJV])[KJV]) “For He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16 ESV) so that you walk together with Christ in fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

AMEN.