I am sure there are many readers of this paper who have never seen a lighthouse, and I suppose there are others who have seen many. You must forgive me then, if I tell you what a lighthouse is.
Let us watch a ship out on the ocean as it draws nearer to the land. It is a dark night, but the captain knows he is getting closer and closer to shore. He also knows that there are dangerous rocks nearby, and he must try to pass as far from them as possible. All at once he sees a glimmer of light shining through the darkness. Eagerly he fixes his eye on the light, and watches it grow brighter as his ship draws near. Now he knows where the rocks are, and he knows just where to direct his boat, for that light is shining far across the waves from the top of a lighthouse built upon the rocky shore. Sometimes a lighthouse is built on a lonely, rocky island, to direct passing ships, and to warn them to stay far away.
The lighthouse of our story was built on a small island, and in that lighthouse there lived a man and his wife. Every night the light shone steadily over the waves, and many a captain was directed safely across the water by its silent gleam. Every week the keeper took his little boat to the mainland for supplies, and for oil to keep his light burning.
One day while he was on the mainland the sky grew very dark and the wind began to howl wildly. Higher and higher dashed the waves until the island could hardly be seen. The faithful wife quickly climbed to the top of the lighthouse and there set to work to start the light. But she noticed with great fear that there was very little oil, and she knew her husband had intended to be back in time with more. She could see nothing as she peered through the window in the direction of the shore but she hoped and prayed that her husband would arrive before the light went out. Presently she gave a gasp—the light was flickering! A few more flickers, a little wisp of smoke, and the light was gone! She cried out in despair, but there was nothing she could do. All night she watched, and in the morning as the storm abated, she went down to the rocky edge of the little island, and there found the wrecked remains of her husband’s little boat. But he was gone — drowned!
I think you would expect that poor widow to leave the island forever. But instead, she decided she must remain and see to it that the light shone every night without fail. And indeed it did as long as she lived. Everyone called it “the widow’s light.”
The Lord Jesus said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:55As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:5). But this world has put the Lord Jesus out, and now He says of those who belong to Him, “Ye are the light of the world.” Matt. 5:1414Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:14). Have you ever thought of that? If you are saved, you belong to the Lord Jesus, and are left here to shine for Him. For there are many traveling through this world who do not know where their journey will end. The Lord Jesus wanted you and me to let our light shine brightly for Him. He wants us to let others know what He has done for us, and that He wants to save them too, Have you ever told anyone else about the precious blood of Jesus that has washed your sins away?
“Jesus bids us shine
With a clear pure light,
Like a little candle
Burning in the night;
In this world of darkness
So we must shine,
You in your small corner
And I in mine.”
ML 08/05/1956