Lighthouses have long been romanticized, and probably with good reason. Imagine being a sailor, out on a dark, stormy sea. You know you’re close to land – or should be – but you can’t see a thing, and you’re fighting the nagging terror in the pit of your stomach that any moment, the stormy waves will shatter your ship on the rocks. But then a beam of light splits the darkness, lighting the way. I may not be much of a sailor, but I can imagine the relief – maybe even elation – that seeing that lighthouse would bring!
Do you and I bring that kind of feeling to others?
“for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” (Ephesians 5:8-11)
Paul tells us that we are light – and, just like a lighthouse is supposed to stand out, so should we – to stand out against the dark, and show the way. It takes courage – being light in a dark world means standing out, it means not conforming, it means looking very… odd. I don’t know about you personally, but I don’t like standing out.
But how will the world see Jesus if we don’t stand out, if we’re not any different? This is what we’ve been redeemed to do! To act like everyone else is to act like we haven’t been saved, like we haven’t been adopted into Christ’s family. On the other hand, the people around us are in darkness. “The Crowd” is rushing towards the rocks, towards the cliffs – and though they don’t know it, they desperately need someone to be light for them, to show them how to avoid being crushed on the rocks. Will you have the courage to stand out, to be light for them?
How are you being called to shine your light right now? It may be simply being a parent, letting them see you “try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” Or you may be called on to shine the light on sins around you. Maybe a coworker is cheating the company. Or maybe a friend needs you to love them enough to confront them, to get in their business, so to speak.
Being a lighthouse is very hard. It requires more courage than most people have, and it means getting over many of our own insecurities so that we’re not simply shining the light back on ourselves. To give Christ’s hope to the people around us, we have to be the light… and show them the rocks. We have to show them the danger, and the way to safety. It’s what Christ saved you and me to do! If you will trust Him, He won’t let you fail.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)
Questions:
- Will you and I have the courage to be a lighthouse in a dark world this week?
- How do you need to “be light” this week?
- How have you seen someone else be light in a dark place?
- How do you be courageous in “being light” without being a judgmental jerk?
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