The Lighthouse
| Most Americans are collectors. My wife and I have a collection of lighthouses. Some of my most memorable vacations have been touring some of America’s lighthouses. Until recent years the keeper of the lighthouse was a key element in its operation. Many lighthouse keepers would take a lifeboat out into perilous waters to rescue victims of shipwrecks. Kate Walker, a widow whose husband had been the light keeper of the Robbin’s Reef lighthouse in New York Harbor, rescued more than 50 fishermen in distress over the years. In addition to taking care of the lighthouse, which she tended until she was 73 years old, she raised two sons, rowing them a mile each day to Staten Island so that they could attend school. |
The chief function of a lighthouse is to shine. It is to be a navigational aid for ships and give direction and warning of rocky coasts and dangerous shoals. Lighthouses remind me of the One who is the Light of the world. Jesus made this claim, “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12). God’s people are to be lighthouses. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14, 16 NKJV). A lighthouse uses various apparatuses to powerfully reflect the light. The beauty of the lighthouse is not so important but reflecting the light is vital to others survival. Are you reflecting the light of Christ to those in darkness?
Thomas Kinkade is known as the painter of light. His paintings shine forth light out of the darkness. John the beloved apostle wrote of and proclaimed the Light of Christ Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life” (John 8:12 NKJV). Do you have the light of life or are you walking in darkness? In Genesis 1 God created light. In John 1 God came into the world as the Light. John the Baptist bore witness of the Light – Christ Jesus. “This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light that all through him might believe . . . That was the true light which gives light to every man coming into the world” (John 1:6-12).
Light presupposes darkness but light also dispels darkness. Jesus taught that the destiny of those who will not come to the Light and believe, receive, and walk in the light of Christ is an eternity in “outer darkness”. (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30) But the wonderful destiny of all those who will believe, receive, and walk in the light of Christ Jesus will be eternity in the celestial city above where the Lamb of God – Jesus – is the light of that city. In heaven there is no darkness. (I John 1:7; Revelation 21:22-27)
Jesus said, “I have come as a light into the world that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” “While you have the light, believe in the light that you may become sons of light” (John 12:45, 36).
As the gospel song says, “I thank God for the lighthouse . . . If it wasn’t for the lighthouse where would this ship be?”
by: Cliff Sanders