Light beams from a lighthouse shine over the water to warn nearby ships of shallow water and reefs. They also help guide ships safely to shore. Those ships count on those lights never going out. The lighthouse keeper has a very important job.
I’ve seen many pictures of lighthouses. It amazes me how the fate of a ship depends on a single structure on a hill. I’ve always wondered what would happen if that light suddenly went out. The ship would be thrust into total darkness and the captain and crew would lose all sense of direction. If a storm was raging, they might end up striking a reef or getting lost at sea.
No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness (Luke 11:33–34 NIV).
We are lighthouses for God, and because of that it is important that we keep the light inside us shining. When our light goes out, we are in danger of losing our way to God. We must also shine for others, so that they may see Christ through us. Just like bugs are attracted to a porch light, we can attract lost souls by our light. And we must never let that light go out. We must continue to shine for others, to help them obtain the light for themselves.
Verses 35–36: See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.
We can’t just let that light flicker. If others are going to see it, it has to shine brightly. We must live a life that shines for God so that we can be living testimonies of His saving grace. Our lights are beacons for the lost. Just like ships depend on lighthouses to shine the way, the lost depend on our light to find their way to Christ.
So, let’s shine brightly and guide the lost to the safe harbor of Christ.
Debbie Mitchell