Lighthouses were extremely meaningful in their day. A bright beacon warning of the dangers that laid ahead if a ship’s course was not changed. To weary seamen, they also brought hope, joy, and peace. They were often the first sign of civilization after a rough week, month, or even year traversing the open sea. Our responsibility as Christians is to be God’s beacon in our world. Shining the light of God for all people to see and fulfilling a similar duty to that of a lighthouse.
Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
A lighthouse is placed in an area that is known to be dangerous. In order to warn others of a known but often unseen danger. As Christians, we know of a danger in this life that many are unable to see. Therefore as God’s beacon, we must do our best to warn those who are navigating down a dangerous path of what lies ahead if they do not alter their course. Showing them that the way they are going does not lead to the kingdom of God but to hell. A place that is far worse than the bottom of the ocean.
1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (ESV)
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 (ESV)
9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
That is to say, Christians must alert the world to these dangers. Doing all we can to help people see and avoid them. Ultimately saving them from destruction and allowing them to enter God’s Kingdom safely. It’s not always an enjoyable task and the conversations can be hard. But those are not reasons to avoid alerting others. You know what is right in front of them. Even if they can’t see it themselves.
Our purpose as God’s beacon does not stop at warning of the unseen dangers in this life. But just as a lighthouse was a beacon of hope, joy, and peace to weary seamen. Christians are meant to be the same to weary people who have been navigating life for so long without God. As those who have the hope, peace, and joy of God we need to share those very same things with others. By letting them emanate from us in every aspect of our lives.
Romans 15:13 (ESV)
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Philippians 4:7 (ESV)
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
John 15:11 (ESV)
11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
However, as God’s beacon, the life of Christians should inspire a feeling that a lighthouse never could, love. The Bible tells us to love others because God first loved us. Christians should meet all people with love just as the Lord meet us with love even when we were still lost in sin. It is imporant that we shine God’s love on all people. By living out the very characteristics of love we see listed in the Scripture.
1 John 4:7–8 (ESV)
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Romans 5:8 (ESV)
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (ESV)
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
There is a reason a lighthouse was always accompanied by a keeper. To insure that the light never went out and not one night passed where the light was not there to guide those navigating the sea. Even the worst storms would not stop the keeper from insuring his light stayed light. In fact, it was in those times that his job becomes all the more important.
Our light should always be shining. An ever-present beacon protruding into the darkness of this world. Even in the hardest times it important that we do our best to keep our light shining for the sake of those still leaving in darkness. Those who cannot see and will never find the safety of God without our light leading them.
Proverbs 4:19 (ESV)
19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble.
Luke 1:5 (ESV)
5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
Lighthouses have all but gone away in place of high tech navigation systems. Many of the beacons have not shined in years. Standing today only as a reminder of a bygone era. While we have seen many similarities between lighthouses and God’s people this is one that will never exist. Nothing will ever replace the need for Christians to shine light into our world.
It is in times like the ones we are now living in that this becomes even more apparent. Lost people are always in need of someone warning them of the danger laying in their path. It is in times like these that we see the great need for hope, peace, joy, and love that so many people are in need of. So let’s give them what they need and be God’s beacon in this world. Shining His light for all people to see.
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