The Lighthouse Series: Post 1: “I am the Light of the world…”

We live in a world plagued with darkness. The world is a ship lost at sea in the midst of a storm in the midnight hours. No light coming down from heaven to guide his way. No direction can be seen from his mast. Just utter and plain darkness. Waves towering above him threatening to consume his very existence. The wind ripping the sails to shreds attacking the identity of the ship. So he, barely afloat, drifts on at the mercy of the storm. But behold! In the distance, a pin prick of light appears on the distant horizon, glittering through the wind, walking on waves, and stepping through rain–overcoming the oppression of darkness. Hope. Land. Refuge. The ship makes his way towards the light. Withstanding the swells, persevering through the gusts, and focusing on the small beacon of hope. The ship may capsize along the way, but he is determined to reach the light, at all costs. As he draws nearer, the source of vision and refuge grows stronger, more vibrant and radiant, beautiful against the blackness and the sea. Hope and life begin to revitalize. The ship, well into the proximity of the light, starts to see the rocks against the shore–the fear of sinking at every angle. The obstacles, almost immobilizing, and nearly impossible to overcome. Between the rocking of the waves, the shoving of the wind, and the echoes of the darkness ringing in his ears, the ship fixes his eyes once more on the light. Rotating through the thick layers of clouds and storm, the trail of fire directs him towards the harbor. Safety nearly in his grasp, the wind that was once his enemy pushes him further to his destination. The light, sharpening the vision of the ship, little by little guides him through the rocky shore. As the ship comes into the harbor, he notices a mighty tower, strong, sure, and resilient. A fortress that withstands the storm and commands the attention of the waves. What was once a small pin prick in the distance is now a lodestar that overpowers the storm and empowers the pursuer. What a glorious sight! The ship, yielding to the light, the source of hope and salvation, is finally at rest and at peace beside the dock next to the tower–submitting to the authority that has conquered the darkness. The storm still rages, but the ship cannot be destroyed.

“Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, ‘I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of Life.” John 8:12 (Amp)

“For you have been a shelter and refuge for me, a strong tower against the enemy.” Psalm 61:3

What is a lighthouse?

A lighthouse is–a tower or other structure containing a beacon of light to warn or guide ships at sea.

A tower, containing a beacon of light. What powerful imagery that is shown. Christ, a strong tower, containing a beacon of light amongst the darkness. A tower, a citadel able to overcome any storm, any uprising of nature. A light that guides and draws near those that are seeking refuge. I can’t help but think of Mary Magdala, and what the light of Christ meant to her in the midst of her personal darkness, of the leper alone and diseased casted away, isolated from the world, the tax collector hated by his own people, a fisherman who casts empty nets, a woman by a well in the hot hours of the day rejected and unloved, a man dead in his grave, a Pharisee afraid to speak against his own kind in favor of the suffering servant, a mother looking up at the boy she raised, hung on a cross. 2000 years later, we are still a people in need of a lighthouse, a savior, a victory over sin and death, a conqueror over the darkness.

What is a beacon of light?

A beacon is a fire or light set up in a high or prominent position (our position in Christ) as a warning, signal, or celebration. How glorious is this definition? Fire or light set up in a high position (Christ at the right hand of our Father in Heaven) and his glory warns against sin, signals/guides the believer through the Word of God and through the wilderness, and celebrates our victory in Christ.

In Christ, we become the light of the world.

Jesus is a lighthouse to this world, a beacon of hope, a guiding luminescence that convicts, heals, and deepens our understanding of the Father, and He is calling His church to become His vessel, so he can use us to show the lighthouse to the world that is failing in the midst of a raging sea of sin, death, and hopelessness. Jesus is our lighthouse that brings us to God interceding for our salvation. Now, He is charging us (His church) to be the vehicle for His light, the Light and Life for the world for all the people lost at sea.

“You are the light of the world–like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14 NLT

“You are the light of the world. You cannot hide a city that is on a mountain.” Matthew 5:14 NLV

“You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14 AMP

Matthew tells us that after the ascension of Christ, after the resurrection, we, the church, became “the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” The light that we radiate is the light of the Holy Spirit that brings us from glory to glory through our walk and personal relationship with Jesus. However, we have to choose to be set on a hill. Just because you are saved through Christ doesn’t automatically place you on the hill or mountain. Our faith means nothing if we do not share it with the world–that is the will of God, the great commission. He wants the whole world to radiate His Spirit and power, for all of us to be a vast ocean of stars that are seen from the heavens. If we place ourselves on the hill, (sharing our faith, our testimony, serving others, becoming a disciple and discipling others, bearing the fruit of the Spirit), we will be a city, a shining example of the love of Christ, that cannot be hidden, that cannot be ignored, that brings the hardest of hearts to the feet of Jesus–even when our adversary is doing his best to turn out the light, he will not be able to darken the threshold of this world. But it takes all of us. It takes everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus to step out in faith, to dare to be different, to courageously share your testimony, to humbly serve others, to bring nations to their knees and confess that the Lord, our God, is King. The enemy’s time is near. He is preparing the way to take his stand against God, but… my God has already defeated him when His son hung between heaven and hell for me and for you. Jesus holds the keys to hell and soon Satan and his followers will be put where they belong. Until then, we must remain faithful, obedient, humble, and submissive to our Lord.

I implore you to search within your heart. First of all, do you know Jesus? If you do not, please leave a comment on my post or private message me, and I would love to pray with you. Also see the prayer of salvation below, you can pray that, and as long as you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is your Savior and Lord of your life, died to cleanse you from your sin, and resurrected to break the chains of sin off of your life and raises you into new life, that you repent and ask forgiveness of your sins, and receive His forgiveness, then you are saved. Your spirit man has been made new in Christ. However, your faith does not end there. You then need to tell someone what Jesus did for you and seek mentorship by someone mature in the faith that will help guide you through this new life Christ has given you.

Secondly, are you contributing to the kingdom? We are NOT saved by our deeds. We are only saved by faith through the grace of God. However, faith without works is dead. Are you bearing the fruit of the Spirit that can be used to bring others to Christ? Are you actively pursuing your relationship with Christ daily? Are you renewing your mind with the Word regularly? Are you serving within your church? Are you giving back what already belongs to God? Are you giving over and beyond what your tithe is? Are you sharing your testimony to those around you that need Jesus? If we are believers of Christ, now is the time to get serious, to learn and digest the Word, to walk so closely with the Lord that we are clipping His heels. There is blessing in obedience and following the will of God. There is protection. There is provision. There is power. There is grace and mercy.

I urge you Christ followers to allow the glory of Christ to radiate in and through you and for you to climb that hill and let your light shine on this world. This world needs you to show the love and light and life of Christ. The time is now to eliminate the darkness. Be a lighthouse.

Please let me pray for you,

Heavenly Father, Glory be your name! Thank you for your son, Jesus. Thank you for His victory on the cross. Thank you for His Light and Life You brought to the earth so that we can have intimate relationship with You. I pray, Lord, for anyone who is reading this that your Holy Spirit would minister to their spirit, lovingly convicting their hearts and guiding them to the truth. Thank you for your correction and healing. What a loving Father you are to us! Lord, I pray for those who are hurting in the darkness. I pray that they see the light and hope of Jesus. Lord, woo their hearts and bring peace to their spirits. I pray for those who are lost at sea that they will pursue a relationship with You, and that You would use their testimony for Your glory, honor, and praise. Lord, thank you for speaking to your people. Thank you for speaking to me. Lord, help us to apply your Word to our life and walk with You. Build a desire and hunger for Your presence and Your truth. Help us to be the hands and feet for Your kingdom. Lord, thank you for your provision, protection, faithfulness, and love. Lord, speak to our spirits and help us to remain sensitive to the urging of the Holy Spirit, and help us to remain obedient to His call. In Jesus Mighty Name. Amen.

Prayer of Salvation,

Lord, I am a sinner in need of a savior. Lord, come into my heart and be the Lord of my life. I recognize and believe that you, Christ Jesus is my savior and that You died on the cross to forgive my sin and that You resurrected from death and conquered the grave. Lord, forgive me of my sins. I repent and choose to walk in the path You have designed for my life. I submit to the cross, and I choose to honor You with my life. Thank you Lord for your forgiveness, your grace, and mercy. I receive your forgiveness and salvation. I am now a new person. Born again by Your Spirit. Thank you Father. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Songs of Worship: