Lighthouses
Mustard Seed Chronicles: Story Time with LU Grandma
A long time ago one of the professors told me that if there was any proof that life is important, sacred, and valuable it is that there are ambulances, fire trucks, and lighthouses.
When my family lived near Lake Ontario in New York, there were two lighthouses nearby. One was the “old one” up on a hill. The other was at the entrance of Great Sodus Bay. A pier went out into the bay about seventy yards. When my life would get crazy, I would drive down to the lighthouse and would watch the waves crash against it and over the pier. I always marveled that the lighthouse was never affected. The Holy Spirit helped me realize that my life was also going to be okay.
Soon after I got saved, I joined a ladies’ quartet. The first song I learned was “The Lighthouse” written in 1970 by Ronny Hinson. Its lyrics ring true to this day! The chorus goes:
And I thank God for the lighthouse,
I owe my life to Him,
for Jesus is the lighthouse
and from the rocks of sin,
He has shown His light around me
that I could clearly see,
If it wasn’t for that lighthouse,
tell me, where would this ship be?
Years ago, we watched the movie Pete’s Dragon with our boys. There was a section in that movie that just struck me so hard! It was the scene where the lighthouse keeper Lampy was teaching the orphan boy Pete about the lighthouse and cleaning the lenses at its top. Pete asked why they had to clean the lenses every day. Lampy answered, “If I don’t, the light could be shining all night, but the sailors would never be able to see the light and they would crash on the rocks!”
At that moment, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart too. “Timi, you are a lighthouse to people around you. Every time you sin, you sling mud upon the lenses of your “light.” The light is still burning inside so you have not lost your salvation or anything, but nobody else is going be able to see it.”
As believers, we are all to be lighthouses! And here at Liberty University your students are being taught to be lighthouses and to share that light.
Jesus told us in Matthew 5:15-16, “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all [who are] in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (NKJV).
No matter where we are and no matter what’s going on in our own lives, Jesus tells us to be the light to draw others safely to the shore of salvation.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, You have called us to take the Light to the world as it is in darkness. Jesus is that Light. Help us recognize all the opportunities You bring into our daily lives, whether they are verbal or in printed emails, Facebook posts, etc. that we need to brighten up this dark world.
In the precious name of Jesus, I pray, Amen!
Meet the Author
Timi Plyter
“LU Grandma”
Lead Parent Advocate
