Spiritual Wicks
For the most part, much of matter exists in three phases:
solid, liquid, and gas (vapor). On which
phase does the matter exist depends largely on the property of the material and
temperature to which it is exposed. So, for example, in warm to cool weather
water is liquid. In very hot weather
water is gas or vapor. On the other
extreme, in very cold weather, water is solid – what we call ice.
There are terms for the temperature at which matter changes
from one phase to another. For example,
there is melting point, the temperature at which a solid become liquid. These vary depending on the material’s
property. So, it is that a material with
a low melting point will be liquid where one with a high melting point will be still
solid. Other example of these terms is flash points: This is defined as the
temperature at which a particular organic compound gives off sufficient vapor
to ignite in air when exposed to flame. If you have two different substances
with two different flash points, the one with the lower flash point will burn
before the one with the highest flash point.
A good example for this is the wick of an oil lamp. Let us learn more about these lamps to
illustrate this point.
In the past lamps where very simple utensils: it was nothing
more than a small reservoir filled with oil and a wick coming out of the
reservoir saturated with the oil from the reservoir. Through capillary action the wick would draw
the oil up. If you looked closely, you would notice a charred bit along the
top, and sometimes it gets hard and crusty, this is like lacquer from the oils,
and should be trimmed up from time to time.
When you light the candle wick, the small burnt bit of wick heats the
oil travelling up, and the vapor ignites. The oil vapors have a lower flash
point than the cotton, so they ignite before the wick does. Kerosene, for example, has an auto ignition
temperature of about 220 °F with a flash point of 33-36 °F and Cotton needs
about 630 °F to flash. If you look
closely on a candle, the wax does the same thing, you will see a space between
the flame and the wick, and it is not the wax but rather the vaporized wax that
is burning. To reiterate, this means the
vapors – which only need 33 °F heat to ignite with a flame source - burn before
the cotton can burn. So you see, as long as there is oil to burn, the cotton
just acts as a wick! The wick will burn
when the oil is gone and the flame is still does burning; the cotton becomes
the fuel.
We will see that there is a spiritual application to this
when we study the vision in Zechariah 4. This vision is full of imagery,
symbols and meaning. Let us read it,
Zecheriah 4:1 And the angel that talked with me came
again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep.
Zechariah 4:2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I
said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the
top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps,
which are upon the top thereof:
Zechariah 4:3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the
right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
Zechariah 4:4 So I answered and spake to the angel that
talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
Zechariah 4:5 Then the angel that talked with me answered
and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying,
This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by
power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Zechariah 4:12 And I answered again, and said unto him,
What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the
golden oil out of themselves?
Zechariah 4:14 Then said he, These are the two anointed
ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth
This vision is an obvious reference to the lamps in the
sanctuary. According to Leviticus 24:2,
the Lord said to Moses to “Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto
thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn
continually.” We read from Ellen White
writings that by the lamps is represented the word of God. The psalmist says,
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto may path." Psalm
119:105. The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. [We see this as we read the narration as how
the Spirit is represented in the prophecy of Zechariah.] (PK 594.1;COL 408.1)
In this vision the two olive trees which stand before God
are represented as emptying the golden oil out of themselves through golden
tubes into the bowl of the candlestick.
From this the lamps of the sanctuary are fed, that they may give a
bright, continuous light. So, from the holy ones that stand in God's presence
His Spirit is imparted to the human instrumentalities who are consecrated to
His service. (PK 594.1: COL 408.1) Then the heavenly fire, when applied, makes
them burning and shining lights. Our hearts cannot reflect light until there is
a vital connection with heaven; this connection is established when the Holy Spirit
dwells in us. This alone can make them burn steadily with holy, unselfish love
for Jesus, and for all who are the purchase of His blood. And, unless we are
constantly replenished with the golden oil, the flame will die out. (TDG 98.3)
If the fire of the Spirit is not burning, we then become spiritual
fuel. Ellen White explains why,
The prophet Isaiah had declared that the Lord would cleanse
His people from their iniquities "by the spirit of judgment, and by the
spirit of burning." The word of the Lord to Israel was, "I will turn
My hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy
tin." Isaiah 4:4; 1:25. To sin, wherever found, "our God is a
consuming fire." Hebrews 12:29. In
all who submit to His power the Spirit of God will consume sin. But if men
cling to sin, they become identified with it. Then the glory of God, which
destroys sin, must destroy them. (DA
107)
As we can see we are the wicks and without the Holy Spirit
oil we burn out. The Holy Spirit is thus
a preserving agent. It is He that burns,
and as long as He is present He will burn but not us. So, spiritually we are to be “human torches”
“… letting our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and
glorify our Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
