The September night was warm and dark. Clouds covered the face of the moon, and only the soft splash of waves on the sand told of the dark Gulf of Mexico just beyond. High on the beach there was movement in the sand - a whisper of anticipation - a stirring of new life.
Word was hurried to members of Longboat Key Turtle Watch, and soon the watchers were rewarded by seeing 90 baby loggerhead turtles breaking from their shells in the protected nest.
Long abandoned by their mother, emerging alone into an unfamiliar world, how does a little turtle find its way to water and safety? The guide is light on the water - moonlight - starlight - phosphorescence. So it has been on the beaches for thousands of years, and for so long a time the turtle hatchlings have turned naturally to the water.
What is different now?
There are conflicting lights on the shore - street lights, porch lights, automobile headlights - and the baby turtles turn in confusion and flounder toward the brightest light.
It is a deadly mistake. Born to swim free in the cool waters of the Gulf, they cannot survive on dry land. If they escape being crushed under the wheels of passing cars as they cross the beach road, it will only be to die miserably of starvation and dehydration on the land.
Here the Turtle Watch comes to the rescue! Wading out from shore, they hold lights on the water just where the hatchlings can see them. Soon all the little flippers are scuffling across the beach, scurrying to water and life.
Are there any false and confusing lights for us too? Most certainly there are! In fact, in all the glitter and glare of our modern world it is possible for us to be completely dazzled and disoriented. The fantastic achievements and technological advances of our time are almost beyond our comprehension, and as everything around seems to be changing we look for some guiding light to steer by.
New lights spring up in all directions: New Thought, New Wave, New Morality, but they lead only to disaster - soul disaster. We need - we must have - a true light. There is one, and only one: Jesus Christ is the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:99That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:9).)
Jesus said: I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:1212Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12).) The light of life! Not flickering, temporary candles that may be blown out at a breath, but light of life - everlasting life. We can have that light only by accepting the One who is light and life; we must receive the Lord Jesus as our own Saviour. He will be our light all through this life, and our light and life forever. v
For whosoever shall call upon the name
of the Lord shall be saved.