I stood recently on a rocky point overlooking the pounding surf where two seas meet. Treacherous currents compounded by gale force winds whipped up the sea into swells that looked at my vantage point to be at least 14 feet high…spray breaking off the tops of the crests. Hidden rocks exposed themselves at some distance from the shoreline as the sea surged away then they disappeared again with its return. Far out to sea a faint glimpse of a passing vessel caused me to imagine my vessel on that sea approaching that point. Thankfully, indeed, Nativa was anchored safely in a sheltered cove some distance away. ? Words to think about…
The moment’s contemplation though was not so much on the sea and the rocks below as it was on the lighthouse stationed proudly on that high promontory. Word was from the locals that the light could be seen quite plainly from Miangas Island in Indonesia and from Saranganni Island far to the west across the Gulf. Such a powerful light would truly be an asset not only for protecting the unwary from a dangerous coast but also for giving a sense of location and direction to people far away. The problem is though, it is a lighthouse with no light… proud, prominent, stately…but useless.
When Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world…” we imagine him to be telling us of a part of our reason for existence. Churches and Christians in general have that grand purpose of lighting the way to eternity for our world through the gospel of Christ. We have been positioned in the best of all possible places for the greatest of reasons. Maybe we like what we’re called to do and quite enjoy the place…but do we send the light? Words to think about…
