Be the Light

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, NC photo by pixabay

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

~Mark 16:15 KJV

Before we take our vacations I always do a little research on the area we want to visit. Here are a few things I found out about Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. It is probably the most famous of the lighthouses along the Outer  Banks of NC. 

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has been built in a variety of ways. First, it was short and made of sandstone. It wasn't very visible to mariners. Later in the 1800's it was built on a floating foundation, built much taller, equipped with a Fresnel lens, and painted a distinguishable color. I'd like to examine some of these important features. 

The Sandstone - As we mentioned, the sandstone lighthouse was too short and too hard for mariners to see. It couldn't do the job. 

• When God commanded that sacrifices be made, they were only to be representations of the true sacrifice. They were simple altars made of stones. Even when the brass altar of the Tabernacle was constructed it was still a symbol of the true sacrifice to come.

The Floating Foundation - When the foundation for the new construction of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was made in the 1800s the water table was only four feet down. Construction workers had to make a floating foundation by laying wood crossways below the water table. Then they placed granite on top of the wood to build the new lighthouse. 

• Jesus, the Rock of our salvation was placed upon a wooden cross. 

The Color and the Light - The Lighthouse Board regulated the color and light patterns of each lighthouse so mariners could distinguish by day and by night where they were located. The area off the coast of North Carolina is known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. The lighthouse needed to be tall enough to see and the pattern of the light flashes at night needed to reach out far into the ocean so mariners knew how close they were to the rocky coast. The intersection of the ocean currents caused many ships to go down, casting the ships against the coast. Having the lighthouse to guide the way saved many ships and lives. 

• The Israelites were guided in the wilderness with a cloud by day and a fire by night. It guided them through a wilderness they had not traveled before. 

The Fresnel Lens - A Fresnel Lens is made up of triangular prisms of glass. This helps the light to go farther. Lighthouse lights are white lights because they go farther than colored lights. There were 1000 triangles in the Lens made for the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. 

• Jesus is the Rock of our foundation. He is the Light of the world.  He is also our Savior on which the church is built. But, the members of the church are the ones commanded to take the gospel to the world. We are to reflect the Light in all we do. There is a world full of shipwrecked people out there who need the light of Jesus to safely guide them to salvation. 

Be the Light. 

Father, help us be aware of how we reflect your Light to others. In Jesus's name. Amen.

Hey Kids:

Are you going somewhere for a vacation? 

Have you researched the area and the possibilities?

How will your travels help you reflect the light of Jesus to others? 

Staying home this summer? 

There is always an adventure in our backyards. 

Kids' magazines are always looking for drawings and writings by kids! 

What will you discover this summer that you can share with other kids? 

How will you reflect the light of Jesus? 

 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. 

~Song of Solomon 2:3

Have you ever read The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein? A little boy finds delight in the fruit and shade of an apple tree. As he grows older he goes to the tree less and less.  The things of the world; money, house, family, and a boat, draw him away. When he wants more but can't seem to find the way to get it. Each time he returns to the tree. The tree sacrifices more and more to give the boy now a man the things he desires. Each time the boy/man returns it makes the tree happy until the boy leaves again. Finally, there's nothing left but a stump where the old man sits. 

Children's literature is an interesting thing for adults to contemplate. It's much more than a story. I'm not sure if the author understood a Biblical meaning of his story but we as Christians can help our children and ourselves gain truth from children's literature. Just as Jesus told parables to give them an understanding of truth so we can use stories to bring truth to our children. 

Song of Solomon uses the analogy of an apple tree. The apple tree was better than other trees because it gave fruit to the hungry and shade for the weary. Not even the cedars of Lebanon were of use without first being cut down. In The Giving Tree, the apple tree was food and shade but also it gave and gave until finally it too was cut down. Still, it was a place of rest. In Jesus, we have spiritual food for our souls. We find rest and peace in the shade of His word. Though we stray far from Him, like the Father in Jesus's parable of the prodigal son, He is always waiting and looking for our return.  

The Giving Tree is kind of a sad story of how we waste our lives in search of the things to make us happy, the things the world offers. It is sad that the tree that only wanted to love gave all for the boy. I'm not sure the boy in the story ever understood what the tree had done for him.

Jesus has given all for our salvation. He is our apple tree. He has been cut down on the cross but thankfully risen again to give us the fruit of salvation and the place of rest and peace for our souls. 

Heavenly Father, help us recognize Your love for us in giving Your only Son for the salvation of our souls. Thank you for the rest and peace we can find under His shadow. In Jesus name. Amen.

Created with a Purpose

 

My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

~Psalms 139:15,16

We all encourage our children to set goals, to strive to be their best, to look for their purpose. We take tests that tell us what jobs we are most suited for. We select class superlatives. 

But have we considered that God has a purpose for each person? 

Read Psalms 139:15,16 again. God chose a purpose for each of us before we were ever conceived. He shaped our DNA to form a unique person. He planned a life of purpose. He knew what we would be good at and how we could demonstrate His glory. 

However, the choice is ours to follow His good plan. 

Every newborn child is sweet, innocent, and filled with love. What becomes of that child is partly influenced by the environment in which they grow up but even in the worst of circumstances, every individual must make choices. Even if they live where the Bible is not available, God will make a way for them to know Him. 

God created Israel for a specific purpose. Isaiah 43:1 says:

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,

And He who formed you, O Israel:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name;

You are Mine.

God created  you for a specific purpose. He will redeem you through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. He will fulfill His purpose for your life if you turn to Him. 

Queen Esther had no idea why she was orphaned and raised by Mordecai. She had no idea why she was chosen to be queen. Then when it was time for her to be used for God's purposes, the purpose He created her for, she submitted to Him, trusted Him, even if it were to mean her death. But it wasn't death, it was life for her people. She was created for such a time.

Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

~ Esther 4:14b

You too, were created for such a time as this. Seek the Lord, His salvation, and His purpose for your life. 

Heavenly Father, help us take heart that You have not forsaken us but rather You are working in the lives of Your people to fulfill Your purpose. In the name of Jesus Christ, Your Only Son, we pray. Amen.