One of the first concepts humanity was introduced to is light. Very early in life we learn to associate times, seasons, and days with the presence/absence of light. Light also means more to believers considering that, of all the things the scriptures identify us as, light is used on more than one occasion to describe the believer. There are very few things that God describes both himself and the believer as; one of them is Light. Even in describing the believer’s estate, heritage and all things spiritual, light is often used as synonymous with revelation or the presence of God. How did life on earth begin? Light. Genesis 1:1-3. Deep in the fabric of all created things is that part that responds to light. If you had no prior knowledge of lighthouses and you were asked to define one, you’d probably say a light house is a house with lights. And, you’d not be entirely wrong. However, this definition is not all-encompassing. A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid, for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. They were created in the 17th century, and are still relevant in the 21st, primarily as navigational beacons. One of the most captivating things about lighthouses is that though they have one primary purpose: to produce light, this light they produce is not from the substance of the light house. Do you understand? No? I’ll explain. Lighthouses are mostly made of stones, because they are mostly built on islands or close to river banks. Being surrounded by water means the building materials should be able to withstand wear and tear, particularly by water. The light in that lighthouse doesn’t shine because it is made of luminous material, but because it has a light source inside. Also, note the location of the light. It’s always placed at the highest level of the tower. Imagine the radius a tall tower would cover as opposed to a taller one! Drawing analogies from literal lighthouses we can say, like in Proverbs 20:27, that the spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord. Every man that is born is lit by the Spirit of God. Man has no light of himself. And to fulfil the purpose of the light house, which is to give light to sailors over a certain radius, the light must be at the highest possible point of the tower. A man who has not enthroned Jesus as Lord—seated at the highest echelon in their hearts, will not be able to step into the full realization of purpose. And if you’re asking “how can a light house possibly grow in stature to become taller?” Voila! Jude 1:20 “building yourselves in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost”. Get praying! In prayer you build. Another beautiful thing about lighthouses is their unambiguity. Each lighthouse has a certain pattern to which it shines its light so that the message is not lost to the sailor. Some lighthouses use a red light shone in a certain direction to warn sailors of the presence of rocks at an area. This sounds a lot like what Paul speaks to in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. It’s hard to miss a lighthouse. It’s intentionally built to be seen. Even if other structures per chance are around it, they’re eclipsed by the lighthouse. Lighthouses never hide. They make statements effortlessly; Talk about totally understanding and executing assignments/purpose. Despite its creation in the 17th century, sailors still experienced preventable casualties and this prompted Fresnel’s invention of the Fresnel lens in the 18th century to help solve the problem of reach by reflection and refraction. This lens allowed for light to be refracted from the light source and transmitted over a wider radius. It had to be shaped in a certain way, having excesses cut off from its original design to allow it fulfill purpose. For us, as believers, the lens for reflection of the light is our mind and as we refine our minds through the word of God, our reach increases. We are now able to carry out purpose effectively and to reach previously unreached people with the light within us. Why does God call us lighthouses? Take a guess. Why do you think He does? Well, I’ll tell you what I think: Every time you hear of a lighthouse, there’s a mental image you have, of a tall, stately building, guiding sailors as they navigate waters. So also, every time a believer is seen/heard, the world (and other believers) should see a beacon of hope, constant, unwavering, distinct and yet, highly efficient, producing God-class results. Every believer is a lighthouse. You are a lighthouse. You’re the city set on a hill. You give light to a dark, cold, dying world. So, shine. Let your light so shine…Never stop shining!
GLORY JOSEPH
