A Parable About a Lighthouse

In many ways it was a typical New England town. It was in Massachusetts on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, where the white caps would pound the shoreline filled with many jagged rocks. It was in the days before modern navigational aids. Ships would sometimes run aground in the dark and stormy seas on their way to Boston Harbor and small craft would capsize and those aboard would perish.

Then the mayor of the town called many of its citizens to a town hall meeting. The citizens who answered the mayor's call decided to build and operate a lighthouse and rescue service. The mayor assigned his son to lead the project because the mayor's son was a builder and had a heart for serving others.The townspeople were excited to have a part in such an important mission.

The mayor's son laid the foundation for the lighthouse and the rest of the townspeople completed it. They formed a lighthouse society and took turns operating the lighthouse. Those who were more skilled in boating and swimming formed a rescue team to save those who were in peril even with the aid of the lighthouse.Far fewer ships ran aground because of the lighthouse. The rescue team saved all of the small craft that capsized in the rough waters.

The project was a success as the townspeople had hearts that yearned to be of service as they eagerly cooperated with the mayor's son who directed the building of the lighthouse and served as president of the lighthouse society.Because of their common interests, the members of the lighthouse society began to have many social activities, including boating and rescue contests, picnics, special dinners, dances, bowling teams, and golf tournaments. These activities grew in popularity. In a few years, these activities had become so varied and enjoyable that fewer and fewer members of the lighthouse society had any time left to operate the lighthouse or any desire to give of their financial resources for its upkeep.

Even worse, some members of the society began to argue and fight among themselves. Some members left in disgust, and other members filed lawsuits against their fellow members. A small number of members performed most of the work that needed to be done, and some tasks were left undone.Just as the mayor called the townspeople to serve in building and operating the lighthouse, Christians have been called by God the Father to walk in the light of his truth as shown in I John 1:5-7:."5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (KJV).Just as the mayor gave the authority for building and operating the lighthouse to his son, God has given all power in heaven and earth to Jesus Christ, who is head of the Church.Jesus Christ has given his disciples the great commission of spreading the light of the gospel to all nations.

We must follow the light of Jesus Christ because a good example is important in fulfilling our calling to make disciples of all nations.Although Satan may appear as an angel of light, the true light comes from Jesus Christ and the Word of God. They light our path so that we can follow that route that light leads with boldness and without fear that we will run aground in our life's journey. We are to study God's Word diligently so that we can see the true light for our journey.However, we are not to dock our spiritual ships and just stare at the light. We should not spend all our waking hours studying the Bible.

We must study the Bible to see the light of God, but we are to use the light to see clearly how to navigate our spiritual ships through life's stormy seas.We need the light of God's Word to guide us in our daily lives at school, at work, in the home, and in the church. We must be on the proper course to have true fellowship with the other disciples of Jesus Christ. We must admit our sins when the light shows us that we are off course, seek God's forgiveness, and ask Him for a course correction.We are not to argue with the lighthouse.

Sometimes the course we are following seems to be good, but we must be willing to change course as we better understand the Word of God.We must always navigate by faith and grow in grace and knowledge so that we can better reflect the light of Jesus Christ to others. We are called to work in the spiritual lighthouse of Jesus Christ. Our good works light the path for others. Nothing teaches better than a good example. People usually do not care how much we know about God's Word, but they are moved by our example and how much we care about others as shown by our good works.

Jesus Christ, the captain of our salvation, has given his disciples the commission of spreading the light of the glorious gospel of the Kingdom of God to all nations. We must always keep our eyes on the mission and not get overwhelmed with activities, the cares of this life, and arguing with our fellow disciples as did the members of the lighthouse society. Matthew 24:45-51 is instructive in this regard:."45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

47Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (KJV).As we navigate our spiritual ships through life's stormy seas, we should keep our eyes on Jesus Christ the true lighthouse. We should follow the light from Jesus Christ and the Word of God and reflect it to others. We should keep our eyes on our mission of helping to shine the light of the glorious gospel of the Kingdom of God to all the world.

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By: Alan D Campbell