Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Keeper of the light

Today’s Reading: Acts 3:17-18 (NIV)

17 “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer.”

Good morning!

We often miss seeing the truth, even as it stands right in front of us. Have you ever made error in judgment simply out of pure ignorance?

I had never been inside a lighthouse until last week. In preparation for our trip, I read about the lighthouses of the northeast, viewing beautiful online pictures of these life saving stations dotting the shorelines of the Great Lakes region. Many of these buildings were erected in the mid 1800s, formed out of limestone and concrete, to withstand high winds, crashing waves and the test of time. I had absolutely no idea how narrow the interior space of a lighthouse could be, or how difficult they were to climb until I experienced it for myself.

The lighthouse caretaker had to be quick in responding to the urgent needs of a ship trying to reach land safely in a sudden storm. He would climb a ladder to the top of the lighthouse whenever a storm blew up over the lake, risking his own life just to provide a much needed light in the darkness. One day while we were in Rochester, I counted five separate storms that blew over the lake within a twelve-hour period of time. The lighthouse caretaker was on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. His life was totally devoted to the safety and care of the people out there struggling to survive in the water. What if he was not there to light the way when the storms came? Standing inside the interior of the lighthouse, I touched its cold, damp walls, and realized, for the very first time, the lifelong sacrifice made by the keeper of the light.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the light of the world. The Apostle Peter explained the kind of Messiah our Father had sent to earth. He is our life saving station, and it is only through His light that we can find The Way home. The sacrifice Jesus made to save people is truly profound; yet, we are so blinded by the storms of life to see His absolute Truth, even when He stands there, right in front of us. What will it take for you to fully comprehend the love that will not let you go?

Christ’s light is a continual reminder of the Father’s love for all people drowning in a sea of sin. His supreme sacrifice on the cross continues to light the path for each and every generation. The love of Jesus is our only hope for survival. May we experience His light in a brand new way today, as we reach out and touch the interior of the lighthouse wall. Can you sense the awesome power of the caretaker’s amazing love? Only Jesus Christ saves.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.

No comments: