Who is Jesus? #83 (From the Apocalypse)

".. and among the lampstands was someone 'like a son of man' dressed in a robe reaching down to His feet and with a golden sash around His chest," (Revelation 1:13).
I can't go on without more about these lampstands. I know that they represent churches; specifically, the seven churches that are in Asia. These churches, as far as I can tell, are representative of all the churches at that time.
But, why lampstands and not lamps? If God's people are the "light of the world" (Matthew 5:14), then why aren't they pictured as or symbolized by lamps/lights?
I think it could be that, because of the persecution that most were experiencing, that it appeared that their lights/lamps were being extinguished. The world was seeing, or perhaps wanted to see, churches that was diminishing and eventually would go away.
But maybe there is another reason.
"The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is the lamp," (Revelation 21:23). This is the key message. The light that we have is simply a reflection of the source of the light - Jesus. "In Him was life, and that life was the light of men," (John 1:4).
There was light with those lampstands. Just because there was no lamp on them, doesn't mean that there was no light. Further, these churches, along with myself, needed to remember that they/I am not the source of the light. We simply reflect the light.
Jesus gives light to all that are in the world.
Lord, please light up my life!

Be Strong and Courageous,

L.T.