There are two uses for a Beacon Light, and the first is as a warning. In olden times, long before the wonderful inventions of the present day, when a message of alarm had to be given, a number of huge fires were lighted on the tops of very high hills. It was a chain of these beacons along the cliffs and hill-tops of Cornwall which told of the approach of the Spanish Armada.
Of course, it is not necessary to-day to send messages by those means, but we still use the word "beacon" to describe some kind of lighthouse. But whether it is a fire on a hill-top or a small flashing light in the sea, its message is the same. Just as the beacons of old told of approaching danger, so the beacons of to-day send out their warning message that there are rocks or other hidden dangers close by.
But now, the beacons have another use, and this is as a sign of great rejoicing. On the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of his late Majesty King George V, over 2,000 beacons were lighted in all parts of the British Isles and in many other parts of the world too. What a lot of hard work had to be done in preparation for this For weeks and weeks people had been busy dragging up logs of wood to the tops of the hills in readiness for the night when every beacon was to contribute its share in proclaiming that, in the mercy of God, the King had reigned for 25 years. These beacons were not as warnings; they were used to celebrate a time of rejoicing.
Now, this book is very like the two kinds of beacons. In the first place it stands as a solemn warning to the need that every reader has of a Savior. May its message be very clear, not only to the fact of a need of a Savior, but of the great danger in delaying too long in coming to that Savior. The words of Scripture — so often quoted in the following pages — are, "Remember NOW thy Creator in the days of thy youth."
But what of the rejoicing? Has this book any special news to tell? Has it anything that calls for special rejoicing? Indeed it has, for it tells the moat wonderful good news that could ever be told It tells of the story of Jesus—God's blessed Son, and how He died on the cross that poor sinners might know the love of God and be freed from their sins forever. It tells too how that Jesus who once came here as a lowly Man to bear the penalty that sinners deserved, is now crowned with glory in heaven, and there waits as a Savior for all who turn to Him. What a subject for rejoicing! so that we read, "let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice," Psa. 5:1111But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. (Psalm 5:11).
That this little book may serve as a true beacon in guiding some precious souls into the presence of Jesus, where alone real joy is to be found, is the earnest desire of all those who have had any part in its preparation and to Him alone be all the glory.