Are you a Lighthouse?
Jesus said, “I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the darkness.â€? – John 12:46
I was thinking recently about lighthouses. Did you know that lighthouses have been around since before Jesus? I did a little research and learned the first recorded lighthouse was built in about 280 B.C. and rose to an amazing 450 feet (think 45-story skyscraper). It housed an actual open fire at the top. Can you imagine the poor soul that had to climb the steps or ladders to reach the top of the lighthouse to keep the fire going?
Throughout the years, lighthouses have helped seafarers far and wide skirt the dangers of a rocky cliff or show their way home on a dark and lonely night. Its ever present beacon of light reaches out into the depths of darkness and projects its brilliance into the world. The lighthouse has a simple job to do. It doesn’t care where you are from, or where you are going. It’s only job is to continue to shine its light for all those who need to see it. At one time, lighthouses were so important, they had caretakers that lived inside them. Keepers of the light would risk life and limb to ensure the light was never extinguished.
God wants us to be lighthouses. He created us, just as man created those lighthouses, in all different shapes and sizes, in different backgrounds and stages of life. No matter where we have been, or where we are going, God wants us to carry a light too. The light we are made to carry is one of hope and everlasting life. We are made to carry Jesus in our hearts.
Jesus said to the people, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” – John 8:12
We are so blessed to be created in such a beautiful way. God intends for us to carry Jesus with us, wherever we go. And it is His light that should shine from us, through whatever darkness there is to face, through whatever sin and despair is trying to darken our lives. We are made to carry His light, and to shine on those in darkness.
And you want to know the best part? Jesus is our caretaker. We are simply a building, and although we are all unique and beautiful in God’s eyes, our true beauty is in the light we carry. Every time we study His word, our light gets brighter. Every time we bow our heads and praise our Heavenly Father for the blessings he bestows upon us with every breath we take, our light gets stronger. Every time we speak His name, raise Him up and sing His praises, our light grows stronger. It is His light that casts hope into the hopeless, courage into the fearful, and love into the faithless. His light removes the darkness of sin in our lives and replaces it with the beauty of God. We have been given the opportunity to stand on that cliff, cast His light into the darkness, and spread His love throughout the world.
Our light should be seen by everyone, all the time, every day. And it’s our job to keep that light going. We cannot be flashlights that only shine their little narrow beams in emergencies or times of trouble. Our light must be strong, consistent and brilliant. The light of the world! Do you think the light of the world should be a flashlight? Be a lighthouse. Be God’s lighthouse.
