Sermon: Be a Lighthouse
#1799B
Ted E. Bowling
Given 11-Jan-25; 36 minutes
The metaphor of a lighthouse aptly describes the role of God's called-out saints in a darkened world, providing hope, guidance, and stability in a world darkened by chaos and confusion. Lighthouses, having anchored solid foundations provide safety and direction in the same manner as Jesus Christ, serving as the ultimate source of light, steering humanity away from spiritual darkness. John 8:12 and Matthew 5:14-16 identify Jesus Christ as a Beacon of light, penetrating thorough the darkness, providing hope, guidance, and salvation. Likewise, his called-out saints are mandated to emulate Him, reflecting God's light by living righteously. We, as God's saints, must build a solid foundation by ingesting scripture, praying, and applying God's teachings in our daily lives. Only by embracing God's light can we find direction, peace, and purpose by selflessly serving others, our spiritual siblings, and the world at large. Small acts of kindness speak volumes to those with whom we interface. As a metaphorical lighthouse, we are exclusively committed to serving others.
transcript:
The Carolinas here are well known for their beautiful coastlines, which includes Myrtle Beach, where we have had our last several Feast sites. And along the shorelines stand towering guardians of the seas. I am talking about lighthouses. A lighthouse shines its beacon continuously over the darkness of the night. Lighthouses are located on the coast, rocky points, islands, inlets, and harbors. They are near dangerous underwater reefs. Captains guide their ships safely through darkness by the bright lights of the lighthouses. Their beacons warn of the impending dangers and guide the vessels safely on their way.
Here in North Carolina, one of the most recognizable lighthouses is Cape Hatteras. It is very well known. This is one of the very tallest lighthouses in the country and this lighthouse can be seen from 20 miles out to sea, which is really helpful because there are shoals out there that extend almost 14 miles out. So these lighthouses play a very important position. In fact, throughout history lighthouses have served the same purpose: to provide guidance, even hope to captains and their sailors, again, especially in the dark of night.
Just as lighthouses pierce through the obscurity of night, God's light shines through the darkness of this world—Satan's world.
Jesus Christ came to this world to warn us of danger and to save us, to forgive us. Because of the darkness there is nothing more precious than light.
John 12:46 "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in the darkness."
Jesus is saying, He embodies light Himself. He separates the light from the darkness. This goes all the way back to Genesis 1. And when we take on Jesus Christ, then we are also able to abide in the light.
To be in darkness is a very fearful thing. When there is no light, there is no direction, there is no hope. There is only confusion.
I have told this story before, but many years ago when we lived in Bowling Green, Kentucky, we had the opportunity to go to Mammoth Cave. And I remember the guy taking us far into the cave. He had us all standing very close together. There was a group of us, and he told everyone, "Don't move." Then he extinguished the light and there we stood in total darkness. At that moment, I learned what true darkness was. You could see [feel?] the person beside you but you could see absolutely nothing. And I will tell you something. You could see the fear growing within the group. I could feel myself. Because in that darkness, there is total helplessness. Then another guide, a good ways off, lit a single match. And it was amazing the amount of light that one single match produced. The whole group had been frozen in place. We were in fear. There was anxiety, nervousness, and confusion. But when that match was struck, that fear immediately went away.
Now, can you imagine being out on the ocean in that darkness? Being swept to and fro by the water? Not being able to see, barely being able to guide, not knowing really where you are going. But then, to see a beacon in the distance of a lighthouse. I can just imagine the joy and the peace that would wash over these these men.
And that is exactly what Jesus Christ has done for each and every one of us. He provides this precious light that lights the darkest. That is what is so important to us, to understand how precious light is.
Back in John 8. This is when a woman was brought to Jesus Christ who was caught in the act of adultery, and the men were demanding that Christ make a judgment. You know, I am sure that this woman was in total fear, not knowing what was going to happen to her. She may even thought it was a possibility that she might be stoned. But instead of condemning the woman, Jesus offered her hope and comfort. And then Jesus said in verse 12, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
Jesus took the opportunity here, speaking to this crowd. They wanted Him to condemn her, but instead, He taught them. He was not just teaching the crowd, but He was teaching His disciples as well. And He was declaring that light penetrated the darkness of Satan's world offering guidance, hope, and comfort. Jesus was saying, light is life, darkness is death. And I am sure they really did not comprehend what He was saying at the time. And you can see that when He is speaking to His disciples because,
John 12:35-36 Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. [Here again, Christ is warning them how dark Satan's world is and that Satan is trying to deceive and confuse.] While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."
I really think that is an interesting statement. Have you ever considered yourselves sons of light? That is what you are. Just as Jesus Christ is the light of the world, you brethren, also have been called to be lights of the world as well, through Jesus Christ, who is our source of light.
Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
That was the core amid this idea for this sermon because there is a striking parallel between the beacon of light emitted by a lighthouse and the light of God which guides us through the seas of this world, giving us direction, comfort, and then yielding hope. And now this is a powerful metaphor that has been used quite a bit by the Protestant churches and you hear many churches that are called lighthouses and even websites. But that does not take away from the important similarities of this example.
This metaphor illustrates our role in the world as Christians. We are to be lighthouses. Our light will never burn as bright as Jesus Christ, but our light is to shine. We are called to be beacons to this world, to shine forth before men. Our calling is special. And brethren, it does not matter who you are. Whether you be young, or old like me and over the hill, so to speak; uneducated or have a Harvard education, whether you are well known or obscure, each of us have a light to shine.
I know a lot of people do not think they have that. They do not think, what can I offer? But I will tell you what. When you stand in that cave in that total darkness, one match lights up so much. Such a small source of light lights up. So never question yourself that you produce light. It may not be a bright light, but you are a light. When we live our lives as God instructs us, and we display the character of Jesus Christ, you are a bright light in a tired and confused world.
Jesus said regarding Matthew 5:14, "You are the light of the world." As imitators of God, we have our own light. Have you ever considered that you are producing your own light? I know we use the term that we reflect God's light, and that is true. But you are literally producing light. You are emitting the light of Jesus Christ! When we produce the fruits of the Spirit of love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, we are emitting the light of Jesus Christ. That is the foundation that we we stand on.
I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
To be able to shine on this world, we must have a stable, immovable foundation. So going back to my metaphor of the lighthouse, it is essential that our foundation of our light is built on a solid foundation.
Typically, lighthouses are constructed on solid bedrock, which is the most stable, and there are areas of soft seabed where engineers use large metal screws, screw piles that are screwed way deep into the ground to provide stability. Typically, they are made to stand for a long, long time. And in the Scriptures the most prominent example of a lighthouse built on a solid ground is in Matthew 7. It says where Jesus compares life, teaching being built on the solid ground.
Matthew 7:24-25 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock."
Our rock is Jesus Christ and we are building our lives upon Him.
Often that foundation under the lighthouse is greater than what you see above because it is ready to support that building to harsh conditions, strong winds, waves, even erosion. And so this strong base ensures that that lighthouse will stand tall and remain stable over time no matter what the elements it faces. So without a strong foundation we cannot stand.
You know, we talk a lot about, we cover oftentimes in sermons, in our writings, how important our foundation is. The foundation that we are building is nurtured by our relationship with Jesus Christ. It is done through our Bible study, listening to sermons, fellowshipping with each other; through our prayers and meditation. And then we must apply that knowledge and understanding that we have taken in. That is how we build on our foundation. And that is how we are able to discern what is truth and what is important.
Those with a light are able to see light and also recognize darkness. And this is how we develop godly wisdom. This is combining that knowledge and that understanding, and then put it into practical usage in our everyday lives. You see, wisdom does not come automatically, it is not an innate quality that we have. It is developed over time. And so then, we must build that foundation by living our life as a life of obedience to God. This means that our lives are more than just having an intellectual acceptance of the truth but a wholehearted commitment to living uprightly and living our lives to the best of our ability.
Turn to Philippians 2, please, verse 12. The heading on my section here, says "Light Bearers." I think it also could say, lighthouses.
Philippians 2:12-15 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
We do have a tendency to complain. We do have a tendency to even sometimes dispute truth. But we have to guard ourselves against these things. There is an interesting illustration that I had come across, and I want to share it with you. It is recorded in the US Naval Institute Proceedings, a magazine to the Naval Institute. Frank Koch illustrates the importance here of the laws of God in the lighthouse. Two battleships were assigned to a training squadron that had been at sea in maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was on the lead battleship and was standing watch on the bridge as night fell.
The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge, keeping an eye on all the activities. Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing of the bridge reported, "Light bearing on the starboard bow." "Is it steady or moving astern?" the captain yelled out. The lookout replied, "Steady, captain," which meant that they were on a [dangerous] collision course with that source of light. Then the captain called to the signalman, "Signal that ship: We are on a collision course. . . Advise you change 20 degrees." Back came the signal, "Advisable for you to change [your] course 20 degrees!" [Now, the captain was starting to get hot.] He said, "I'm a captain, change course 20 degrees immediately." He received back, "I'm a seaman 2nd class," came the reply. "You had better change [your] course 20 degrees!" Then the captain was furious. He spat out, "I am a battleship, change [your] course 20 degrees." Then came the flashing light, "I'm a lighthouse." The battleship changed course.
You know, that really illustrates, sometimes, our hardheadedness. Because we sometimes are so determined to have our own way, and we think that our way is the right way. Proverbs 14:12 puts it this way, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." That battleship would have ended in death if they kept pushing their own way.
The laws of God are more than just good ideas and personal preferences. They are immovable. They are binding truths in light. And so we always have to make choices every day. Are we going to abide by God's laws? Or are we going to do things our way? You see, the purpose of Satan, the prince of darkness, is to deceive the world and create a false confidence in mankind. And not just in mankind, and the world itself, but in us! He wants to confuse us any way he possibly can. He wants us to change our course.
Every day—every day—we see the media, the politicians, athletes, celebrities trying to advise us of our morality. And oftentimes they are very successful. People do what they want. They try to even to tell us what God thinks and how we should live a righteous life. And it is amazing how much control they have on people. These folks are just like that battleship captain—stubborn and with a confidence, but putting so many in jeopardy. It reminds me of the last verse in Judges.
Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in their own eyes.
I would say we are in a same situation today in many ways. How often have you heard "anything goes?" "I'll take things into my own hands." "There's no telling me what to do." We have folks in the church that will say things like, "I'll never follow a man." You know, we are talking again about a stubborn captain, not willing to consider the collision course they may be on.
So we live in a world that is rejecting God. But we must be on guard. And I will tell you, it is so easy to get caught up with the people around us and the way they think and the source of their principles. They do affect us sometimes. And so that is why it takes daily self-examination and asking ourselves, Am I walking in light or am I walking in darkness?
I John 2:9-11 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in the darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
We see so often today people getting offended and taking things personally, and the fellowship between brethren is affected. You know, it is easy to be offended. And you know what, sometimes it is for good reason. They may be in the wrong! But is it right for us to hate and hold a grudge against someone? You know, it does not matter what others do that makes you sinful, it is what you do that makes you sin. It is our actions. It does not matter how they treat you, the things they say to you, it is how we react to that.
And brethren, we have to work on these things, because Satan is going to try to pry in to your lives and to deceive you and do anything that is possible to get you off course. When we hold grudges to the point where we will not have fellowship with a brother, then how can you have fellowship with God?
I John 1:5-7 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
We are so blessed to have such a merciful God always ready to forgive us our sins. We are so often on this collision course. I keep going back to it, but it is true. We want to do things our way, we want to have the actions and attitudes and feelings toward folks that we want to have. But it is God's way. Jesus Christ set the example. And Bill said it just a little while ago, He was hated more than any other man in so many ways. And it is still happening; Christ is hated today. No one has ever been done wrong more than Jesus Christ, but it never prevented Him from bringing light into a world of darkness. We are to be imitators of Him.
Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma.
Drop down to verse 8.
Ephesians 5:8-10 For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
Light is precious. And we are to be imitators of God. He set the example. He was the perfect Lighthouse because of His goodness, His mercy, His righteousness, and truth. We have a wonderful example.
I saw a quote by George Bernard Shaw. I really like it. It says, "I think of no other edifice constructed by man as altruistic as a lighthouse. They were built only to serve." Altruistic means a person who cares about others and helps them despite not gaining anything for doing so. A lighthouse is not self-serving. It does not pat itself on the back on how good it is or how many lives it has saved. All it does is shine forth.
That is what God wants us to do, just shine forth. It is not about us.
Galatians 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
You know, pride will get in the way of light. But if we stay humble before Jesus Christ we will be able to serve in love. Brethren, you are lighthouses called by God, built on a foundation to serve. God is building you out His Spirit to have outgoing concern for the well-being of others. He is building you on a foundation of God's commandments, built to show lovingkindness and tenderness. That is the example that Jesus brought to us. And that is how we please God.
Matthew 5:14-15 "A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket."
You know, you think about that. Without light, what purpose is the lighthouse? It is just a building. It has no value. A lighthouse must fulfill its reason for existence. God expects every one of us—you and I—to be a beacon of light into the world. And that is by being the best role model we can possibly be. Your values, your character is a beacon. We do not always know who is watching us. Our example, we do not know what how it will affect people. All we know is that if we are doing what He wants us to do, He is pleased with us. He loves us.
And brethren, we can be lights to each other. We can be a beacon to each other, supporting each other and helping each other. Write down Hebrews chapter 10:24-25. Being a lighthouse means providing a good example to anyone that we might see or meet. We want to be a light that others may want to emulate. There should be a difference between you and I and the people of the world in how we act, and how we talk, and how we treat others. That is how we glorify God.
Again, remember, there is always someone watching. A Christian's action is not hidden from his family, his brethren, his friends, his co-workers, the world at large. This being the case, let your light shine before men by your service to others that they may bring glory to God. We should always look for opportunities to serve. We should always look for opportunities for our light to shine. This is done by the way we conduct ourselves. We keep the Sabbath, we do not eat unclean foods, we do not swear, we do not steal, we do not mistreat others, we do not lie. Those are very obvious things, easy to see.
But there are other little things that we can do. I wrote down here, because I think it is true, the members of CGG are very good at doing a lot of the other little things: sending cards, making phone calls, sending flowers. Doing the things that help people get through difficult illnesses and trials. You know, it could be as simple as holding a door open for someone or speaking to someone that is shy and backward. Sometimes our light shines the brightest in the simplest things. Sometimes it is just showing people respect. This is an aspect, I think, that is easily overlooked by so many, especially with the weak and the poor and the elderly. Respect goes a long way. Now, people may not notice it immediately, but eventually they will.
Brethren, our words, our deeds, our attitudes, they should be a message that are a beacon of God's character that Christ may be seen in us.
You know, just yesterday I noticed that today was the anniversary of Church of the Great God. And this morning I wrote down here that I felt it would be remiss not to thank God for this lighthouse that He has provided for all of us. I appreciate this beacon of light, of truth, of morality, that has been shining in the darkness into a confused world providing guidance and direction to so many that we do not even know. I appreciate the ministry for their guidance and their leadership. For being a proper light and beacon for all of us to follow. Truly we are blessed to be here and I am thankful for that.
Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
Everyone, be a lighthouse.
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