I was recently exposed to the song My Lighthouse by Rend Collective Experiment. The song reminds us that Jesus is the lighthouse, pointing our way back to Shore, the place of God’s peace and presence. As humans we have drifted far from the shore of God’s presence. We identify ourselves with Adam’s sin in Genesis 3 as well as the sin in our own lives. None of us can claim that we are righteous before God. Sin has darkened our hearts and minds, but God’s radiant Light has illuminated His Safe Shore. The Safe Shore is a place of rescue and peace, but most importantly it is the place where God himself dwells. Jesus Christ is the Lighthouse and he is actively pointing us back to the Father’s shore.  Before I proceed, I want you to read through the lyrics of My Lighthouse.[i]

In my wrestling and in my doubts

In my failures You won’t walk out

You’re great love will lead me through

You are the peace in my troubled sea

You are the peace in my troubled sea

 

In the silence You won’t let go

In the questions Your truth will hold

Your great love will lead me through

You are the peace in my troubled sea

You are the peace in my troubled sea

 

My lighthouse

My lighthouse

Shining in the darkness I will follow You

 

My lighthouse

My lighthouse

I will trust the promise

You will carry me safe to shore

Safe to shore

 

I won’t fear what tomorrow brings

With each morning I’ll rise and sing

My God’s love will lead me through

You are the peace in my troubled sea

You are the peace in my troubled sea

 

Fire before us You’re the brightest

You will lead us through the storms

 Did you notice the line “You are the peace in my troubled sea”? This description of the Lighthouse vividly connects with the heart and mind. Picture a boat tossing side to side by boisterous wind. As the captain gazes into the horizon he visualizes light beaming from the Lighthouse. The Lighthouse stands tall in the midst of the storm and points us back to Shore. This alone should prompt us to worship. Light always triumphs over darkness.

Jesus identified himself as the Light in John 8:12.

¹² Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (ESV)

As I reflected on this song, I couldn’t help but think about our proper response. Indeed, Jesus is the Lighthouse, but as his followers shouldn’t we be a type of lighthouse to the world? Our lives are filled with chaos, trouble, and various storms. That reality pales in comparison to the life of faith and following God. You see, when we follow Him we are not promised a life free from storms or difficulty, but we are given a promise that we will not have to face those storms alone. In fact, those who follow Jesus must suffer, for this is the way of Christ’s cross. If you have become a new creature by putting your faith in Jesus you are called to be a lighthouse to the world. You cannot help but radiate the glory that has changed your life forever. Matthew 5:14-16 attests this claim.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)

Jesus clearly tells his disciples, “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others so they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Followers of Jesus are called to reflect Him in all they say and do. A lighthouse can never entangle himself with the things of darkness, like sexual immorality, false worship, fits of anger, or anything of like nature. A person of the Light must have genuine love for God and others and he or she must have joy, peace, and self-control. (Galatians 5:19-23) We give glory to God when our lives magnify His greatness.

 

To this point I have tried to connect two strands of thought, the first being that Jesus Christ is the Lighthouse who points our way back to God. The second is that, as followers of the Light, we must be a lighthouse to those around us. Jesus is the Lighthouse, but we can serve as a lighthouse. C. S. Lewis has said that Christians are essentially “little Christ’s” in the world.[ii]

Our every thought and action must reflect that we belong to the Light. We have an opportunity today to make an impact on someone’s life. We have an opportunity to point weary vessels back to the Shore. I want to be used to draw others to Jesus.

 

[i] These lyrics were retrieved at http://www.klove.com/music/artists/rend-collective/songs/my-lighthouse-lyrics.aspx.

[ii] Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis.