Also He said to them, "Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?” (Mark 4:21)
A family vacation to New England. What a trip it was. It was Cheryl’s dream for years to visit there in the fall with the changing of the leaves. We visited all six states and didn’t see much of Cheryl since she was quite the shutterbug. But when she came up for air we fed her and made sure she had a nice bed in a local hotel. And when we hit the coast she switched from trees to lighthouses! How beautiful they were. All different . . . each with their own unique personalities. But one thing they were meant to do and that is to give light to the ships making their way along the coast below.
Visiting the lighthouses was fun. After looking around and taking your photos there is the visit to the museum and gift shop where you can learn the history and get your postcards and of course . . . a magnet for your fridge. And the impressive thing I remember was getting a view of the massive system of lights ready to give aide to the sailors below. But let me tell you something I never saw. No lighthouse ever had mini blinds!
You might think how silly that is. But Jesus said when you light a lamp you don’t put it under a basket or bed. In other words, the light is for distributing, not diminishing. I really think sometimes we downplay the sense of humor Jesus had in his teachings. I get the picture that when people heard Jesus say this parable they chuckled a bit thinking how absurd this course of action would be. And then they would dial into the meaning of the truth Jesus was conveying.
How about you? Are there mini blinds in your lighthouse? We are the light of the world and we are the reflection of the Lord’s light in this dark world we are living in. Down below are lost multitudes navigating in the night unknowingly courting shipwreck. How do we reach them? What can we do? We can serve the purpose for which we exist. And that is to be the light of the world.
Each lighthouse is so individual and yet each one serves the purpose of giving light. Let’s do what the kids sing about in Sunday school:
"This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, LET IT SHINE!!"
Louie
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