Is There a Light in the Lighthouse?

Lighthouses have always fascinated me. I’ve never viewed one up close but some day, I’d like to. It would be interesting to purposely set out to tour American lighthouses, especially those on the east coast.

You won’t find lighthouses in calm waters or tucked securely away from the danger of storms. Lighthouses stand in precarious, treacherous places. Their foundations are sure and secure, made to remain when they are battered by the worst storms. Winds hammer them, the seas tear at them, but they don’t crumble. They have a job to do and they do it proudly–they warn ships of dangerous rocks and perilous shore lines.

I’m sure there have been times when, for some reason, the light has gone out of a lighthouse. Sailors caught in a storm would search for the beacon that let them know their position, but the light was not there. Ships and lives were lost when the warning light went out.

As I watch the news and read newspapers, I can’t help but think that our world is being buffeted and threatened by many, many storms, by fierce, angry winds and torrential, blinding rains. Threats come at us from every direction; freedoms are in peril, lives are being lost, and sometimes it’s hard to find a safe harbor, or even know where hazardous rocks lie. Many people are looking for a guiding light, something to show them where danger lies because sometimes in the roar and thunder and clamor of the storm, it’s hard to know. That’s where we Christians come in. It’s up to us to keep the light of truth burning, to not let our lights go out, and to point the way to safety. It’s up to us to stand firm on our belief, brave the onslaught of the storms,  and keep our lights shining. Faith is a beacon in the stormy sea.