• “THE EXTREMITY OF THE ISLE, PHAROS, IS A ROCK WHICH HAS UPON IT A TOWER CONSTRUCTED OF WHITE MARBLE WITH MANY STORIES AND BEARS THE SAME NAME AS THE ISLAND.
• THIS WAS AN OFFERING BY SOSTRATUS OF KNIDOS, A FRIEND OF THE KING’S, FOR THE SAFETY OF MARINERS, AS THE INSCRIPTION SAYS; FOR SINCE THE COAST WAS HARBORLESS AND LOW ON EITHER SIDE AND ALSO HAD REEFS AND SHALLOWS,
• THOSE WHO WERE SAILING FROM THE OPEN SEA NEEDED SOME LOFTY AND CONSPICUOUS SIGN TO ENABLE THEM TO DIRECT THEIR COURSE ARIGHT TO THE MOUTH OF THE HARBOR.
• STRABO – GEOGRAPHICA 7 BC
• THIS IS THE PHAROS, BETTER KNOWN AS THE LIGHTHOUSE OF ALEXANDRIA.
• COMPLETED BY PTOLEMY THE SECOND IN THE SECOND CENTURY BC IT WAS ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD.
• CONSTRUCTED ON A LIMESTONE ISTHMUS, THE LIGHTHOUSE SOARED TO A MAJESTIC HEIGHT OF 449 FEET.
• IT WAS THE TALLEST STRUCTURE IN THE WORLD AT THE TIME.
• AT THE TOP, STOOD A 22-FOOT-HIGH STATUE OF THE SEA GOD POSIDON LEANING ON HIS TRIDENT.
• THE PHAROS WAS EQUIPPED WITH A MIRROR DESIGNED BY ARCHIMEDES THAT COULD HARNESS THE POWER OF THE SUN TO REFLECT A BEAM OF LIGHT NEARLY 30 MILES.
• AT NIGHT, A MASSIVE FIRE BURNED VISIBLE FROM 17 MILES AWAY TO GUIDE SHIPS INTO THE HARBOR.
• “BUILT IN A COLONNADED COURT, THE LIGHTHOUSE WAS BUILT IN FOUR GIGANTIC SECTIONS.
• IN THE MAIN CENTRAL SECTION WERE THE WINDOWS OF 300 ROOMS.
• THERE, THE MOST REVERED ASTRONOMERS AND MATHEMATICIANS OF THE DAY GATHERED - HUNGRY FOR KNOWLEDGE, CONSTANTLY DEBATING AND EXCHANGING IDEAS THAT SHAPED THE WORLD.”
• A TECHNOLOGICAL WONDER, THE LIGHTHOUSE HAD A DOUBLE SPIRAL STAIRCASE AND A HYDRAULIC MACHINE FOR RAISING FUEL TO THE ROOF.
• IT WAS TOPPED BY A CORNICE OR MOLDING - ON THE FOUR CORNERS OF WHICH STOOD GIGANTIC STATUES.
• JUST BELOW THE CORNICE WAS A MESSAGE FROM THE ARCHITECT SOSTRATUS THE CNIDIAN INSCRIBED TO THE 'SAVIOR GODS OF MARINERS', WHO WERE - IN HIS ESTIMATION – “CASTOR, POLLUX AND PTOLEMY HIMSELF.”
• DAMAGED BY AN EARTHQUAKE IN THE 9TH CENTURY AD, THE PHAROS FELL IN 1323.
• ITS RUBBLE LIES BENEATH THE WATERS OF THE GREAT HARBOR OR ALEXANDRIA.
• THE LIGHTHOUSE OF ALEXANDRIA GUIDED MANY SAILORS HOME.
• I CAN REMEMBER COMING INTO THAT VAST PORT ON A US NAVY DESTROYER,
• EVEN TODAY, ALEXANDRIA IS A BUSY HARBOR WITH TREACHEROUS, CHOPPY WATER.
• IT WAS A WONDER THAT THE MARINERS OF LONG AGO COULD GET HOME.
• BUT LED BY THE LIGHT OF THE SUN IN DAYLIGHT AND THE GREAT FIRE AT NIGHT,
• THE PHAROS GUIDED MANY SAILORS TO SAFETY.
• ITS RADIANT LIGHT COULD BE SEEN FOR MILES AND MILES.
MATTHEW 5:14-15- “YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A CITY SET
ON A HILL, CANNOT BE HIDDEN; NOR DOES ANYONE LIGHT A LAMP AND
PUT IT UNDER A BASKET, BUT ON THE LAMPSTAND, AND IT GIVES
LIGHT TO ALL WHO ARE IN THE HOUSE. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE
BEFORE MEN IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD
WORKS, AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.
• WHILE MEN BUILD, TOWERS EQUIPPED WITH LIGHTS TO GUIDE ONE ANOTHER HOME,
• JESUS BUILT HIS CHURCH TO STAND AS A BEACON TO LIGHT THE WORLD WITH HIS PRESENCE AND TO GUIDE THE CHILDREN OF GOD HOME TO HIM.
• SO, AS RICHARD HALL REMINDS US EVERY WEEK, “LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE”.
• THIS MORNING – HOW TO LIVE A RADIANT LIFE THAT LIGHTS THE WAY FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW.
• BUT, BEFORE WE START THAT PART OF THE LESSON, LET’S PRAY.
• FROM THE GREEK WORD “PHOS” MEANING “TO GIVE LIGHT”,
• LIGHT IN THE GREEK CAN MEAN “LIGHT AS SEEN BY THE EYE”.
• IT CAN ALSO MEAN “TO REACH THE MIND”.
• SCIENTIFICALLY, LIGHT IS A LUMINOUS EMANATION FROM CERTAIN OBJECTS AND BODIES THAT ENABLES THE EYE TO SEE FORM AND COLOR.
• BESIDES DESCRIBING THE NATURAL PHENOMENON OF LIGHT, LIGHT HAS AT LEAST 7 OTHER MEANINGS IN SCRIPTURE.
• LIGHT IN THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF THE GLORY OF THE DWELLING PLACE OF GOD.
1 TIMOTHY 6:6 – GOD LIVES IN UNAPPROACHABLE LIGHT.
• IN FACT, LIGHT SPEAKS OF THE VERY NATURE OF GOD.
1 JOHN 1:5 – THIS IS THE MESSAGE WE HAVE HEARD FROM HIM AND
ANNOUNCE TO YOU, THAT GOD IS LIGHT, AND IN HIM THERE IS NO
DARKNESS AT ALL.
• LIGHT SPEAKS TO THE IMPARTIALITY OF GOD.
JAMES 1:17 – EVERY GOOD THING GIVEN AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT IS
FROM ABOVE, COMING DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS, WITH
WHOM THERE IS NO VARIATION OR SHIFTING SHADOW.
• THE BIBLE DESCRIBES GOD AS THE ILLUMINATOR OF HIS PEOPLE.
ISAIAH 60:19-20 - NO LONGER WILL YOU HAVE THE SUN FOR LIGHT BY
DAY, NOR FOR BRIGHTNESS WILL THE MOON GIVE YOU LIGHT;
BUT YOU WILL HAVE THE LORD FOR AN EVERLASTING LIGHT,
AND YOUR GOD FOR YOUR GLORY. YOUR SUN WILL NO LONGER SET,
NOR WILL YOUR MOON WANE; FOR YOU WILL HAVE THE LORD FOR AN
EVERLASTING LIGHT, AND THE DAYS OF YOUR MOURNING WILL BE
OVER.
• ULTIMATELY THE LORD JESUS IS THE SOURCE OF LIGHT FOR ALL MEN.
JOHN 8:12 - I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD; HE WHO FOLLOWS ME WILL NOT WALK IN THE DARKNESS, BUT WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE.
• TO SEE LIGHT, WE MUST HAVE AN ORGAN MADE FOR IT’S RECEPTION.
MATTHEW 6:22 - THE EYE IS THE LAMP OF THE BODY; SO, THEN IF
YOUR EYE IS CLEAR, YOUR WHOLE BODY WILL BE FULL OF LIGHT.
• THINK ABOUT IT – THE BLIND MAN CAN’T PERCEIVE THE LIGHT.
• WHERE THERE ARE NO EYES TO SEE IT, IF OUR VISION IS IMPAIRED, LIGHT IS USELESS.
1 CORINTHIANS 2:14 - BUT A NATURAL MAN DOES NOT ACCEPT THE
THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD, FOR THEY ARE FOOLISHNESS TO HIM;
AND HE CANNOT UNDERSTAND THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE
SPIRITUALLY APPRAISED.
• THE WORD OF GOD SAYS THAT NATURAL MAN IS INCAPABLE OF RECEIVING SPIRITUAL LIGHT BECAUSE THAT MAN CAN’T UNDERSTAND SPIRITUAL THINGS.
• ONLY IN CHRIST CAN WE COME TO UNDERSTAND THE THINGS OF GOD.
LUKE 16:8 - FOR THE SONS OF THIS AGE ARE MORE SHREWD IN
RELATION TO THEIR OWN KIND THAN THE SONS OF LIGHT.
• THIS MORNING, IF YOU ARE TRUSTING IN JESUS YOU HAVE BECOME A “SON OF THE LIGHT”.
• NOT JUST BECAUSE YOUR MIND HAD BEEN ILLUMINATED BY GOD,
• BUT BECAUSE IN CHRIST YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF HIM.
• WHEN JESUS SAYS THAT YOU CHRISTIAN, ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD,
• HE IS GIVING YOU THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU COULD EVER RECEIVE.
• THINK ABOUT IT – JESUS IS COMMANDING AND CALLING HIS PEOPLE TO BE WHAT HE SAID HE WAS!
• IN JOHN 9:5 HE SAID “I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.”
• THE PHRASE “BEING A LIGHT” WAS FAMILIAR TO THE JEWS OF JESUS TIME.
• THEY SPOKE OF THE CITY OF JERUSALEM AS A “LIGHT TO THE GENTILES”.
• THE MOST IMPORTANT RABBIS WERE CALLED “LAMPS OF ISRAEL”.
• THE JEWS WERE ALSO AWARE THAT NO MAN LIT HIS OWN LAMP.
• WHILE ISRAEL WAS “LIGHT TO THE GENTILES” EVERYBODY KNEW THAT “GOD LIT ISRAEL’S LAMP”.
• THE GLORY OF ISRAEL, THE LIGHT THE NATION CAST OR THE LIGHT A MAN OF GOD WAS BORROWED FROM GOD.
• JESUS NEVER TOLD HIS PEOPLE TO MAKE THEIR OWN LIGHT.
• CHRISTIANS ARE TO SHINE WITH A REFLECTION OF HIS LIGHT.
• I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT EVERY IN EVERY WEDDING I’VE EVER BEEN TO, THE BRIDE HAS BEEN RADIANT!
• A woman and her young daughter were attending the wedding of a relative. This was the first time the little girl had ever seen a wedding ceremony. She was in awe by the pomp and beauty of everything; the music, the formal atmosphere, the decorations, the bride and groom and their attendants in fine gowns and tuxes. At one point during the ceremony the little girl leaned over to her mother and whispered: “Mommy, mommy?” “What dear,” her mother replied. "Why is the bride dressed in white?" The mother thought about that for moment and struggled to come up with a simple explanation her daughter would understand. Finally, she smiled and said to her daughter, "The bride wears white, because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life.” The little girl thought about it for a minute and said, "So why’s the groom wearing black?"
• THE COMBINATION OF HER HAPPINESS, HER NATURAL BEAUTY AND ALL THE ACCOUTREMENTS OF A WEDDING, THE GOWN, THE LACE, THE VEIL, THE NEW LIFE TOGETHER, THE MYSTERY, THE PROMISE…
• THE RADIANCE THAT SHINES FROM THE BRIDE COMES FROM THE LOVE THAT IS BORN IN HER HEART.
• ALL THESE FACTORS COME TOGETHER TO MAKE A BRIDE SPECTACULAR ON HER SPECIAL DAY!
• THE RADIANCE OF JESUS THAT SHINES FROM THE CHRISTIAN IS IGNITED BY THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THE HUMAN HEART.
• SO, WHEN JESUS SAID THAT BELIEVERS ARE TO BE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, WHAT DID HE MEAN?
• FIRST AND FOREMOST A LIGHT IS MADE TO BE SEEN – PEOPLE DON’T PUT THE LAMP UNDER A BASKET.
• IN ANCIENT PALESTINE WHERE JESUS LIVED, THE HOUSES WERE DARK WITH SMALL WINDOWS ONLY ABOUT A FOOT AND A HALF WIDE.
• THE LAMPS LOOKED LIKE GRAVY BOATS – A LITTLE BOWL FILLED WITH OIL WITH A WICK FLOATING ON TOP.
• THE WERE NO LIGHTERS OR MATCHES SO IT TOOK A LITTLE WORK TO GET A FIRE GOING.
• WHEN A FAMILY WAS AT HOME USING THE LAMP THEY WOULD PUT IT ON A LAMPSTAND.
• WHEN THE FAMILY WAS AWAY THEY WOULD PUT THE LAMP UNDER A CLAY DOME, A BASKET.
• THE LAMP WOULD CONTINUE TO BURN UNDER THE BASKET UNTIL THEY RETURNED HOME.
• LIKE THE LAMPS OF OLD, CHRISTIANITY IS MEANT TO BE SEEN.
• YOU CAN’T BE AN UNDERCOVER DISCIPLE FOR JESUS.
• SOMEONE SAID, “THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SECRET DISCIPLESHIP. EITHER THE SECRECY DESTROYS THE DISCIPLESHIP OR THE DISCIPLESHIP DESTROYS THE SECRECY.”
• OUR CHRISTIANITY SHOULD BE VISIBLE TO EVERYONE.
• MORE PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW I AM A CHRISTIAN THAN MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST.
• BECAUSE FRANKLY, A CHRISTIAN WHO STOPS BEING ONE IN THE PARKING LOT, IS NO GOOD TO ANYONE.
• OUR FAITH SHOULD BE VISIBLE IN THE EVERYDAY THINGS.
• OUR FAITH SHOULD BE VISIBLE IN THE WAY WE INTERACT WITH BANK TELLERS.
• IN THE WAY WE TREAT WAITERS AND WAITRESSES.
• IN THE WAY WE TIP. IN THE WAY WE TREAT OUR EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES.
• THE EFFECT OF CHRIST IN OUR LIVES SHOULD BE SEEN IN THE WAY WE DRIVE, IN THE WAY WE PLAY A GAME OR IN THE LANGUAGE WE USE.
• A CHRISTIAN NEEDS TO BE CHRISTLIKE IN THE FACTORY, THE WORKSHOP, THE GARAGE, THE LOCKER ROOM, THE CLASSROOM, THE KITCHEN EVEN THE GOLF COURSE.
• JESUS DIDN’T SAY “YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE CHURCH.”
• HE SAID, “YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.”
• IN OUR LIVES IN THE WORLD, OUR FAITH IN JESUS SHOULD BE SEEN BY EVERYONE.
• IN HIS ADMMONITION AND EXPECTION THAT HIS PEOPLE WOULD BE LIGHTS,
• JESUS ALSO MEANT FOR LIGHTS TO SERVE AS A GUIDE.
• IN THE CHANNELS OF MANY RIVERS WE MAY SEE THE LINE OF LIGHTS THAT MARKS THE WAY OF SAFE PASSAGE.
• WE’RE FAMILIAR WITH THE LIGHTS ON AN AIRPORT RUNWAY.
• WE CAN IMAGINE HOW DANGEROUS CITY STREETS WOULD BE WITHOUT PROPER LIGHTING.
• LIGHTS HELP US TO SEE THE WAY.
• JESUS CAME TO MAKE THE WAY CLEAR FOR US AND HE EXPECTS THAT WE WILL LIGHT THE WAY FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW.
• A CHRISTIAN IS SUPPOSED TO BE A GOOD EXAMPLE.
• THAT’S SOMETHING THAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW,
• PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO BE THE FOCUS FOR GOOD.
• THINK ABOUT IT-A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE STANDING AROUND AND SOMEBODY SUGGESTS THEY DO SOMETHING WRONG…
• UNLESS ONE PERSON SAYS “NO”, THEY ALL GO ALONG WITH IT.
• BUT IF SOMEONE SAYS “I’M NOT GONNA TAKE PART IN THAT!”
• AND ANOTHER AGREES, AND ANOTHER AGREES…
• WHEN SOMEONE TAKES THE LEAD, OTHERS WILL FOLLOW!
• THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE THE MORAL COURAGE OR STRENGHT TO TAKE A STAND BY THEMSELVES.
• BUT IF SOMEONE GIVES THEM A LEAD, THEY WILL FOLLOW.
• IF THEY FIND A STRONG ENOUGH SHOULDER TO LEAN ON, THEY WILL DO THE RIGHT THING.
• IT IS THE DUTY OF THE CHRISTIAN TO STAND FOR GOD SO THE WORLD CAN COME OUT OF DARKENSS.
• TO TAKE THE LEAD, LIGHTING THE WAY SO THAT OTHERS CAN FOLLOW THE GOOD.
• THE WORLD NEEDS GUIDING LIGHTS – PEOPLE WAITING AND WANTING TO TAKE A STAND FOR JESUS.
• A LIGHT CAN ALSO SERVE AS A WARNING.
• THINK ABOUT THE YELLOW LIGHTS OF CAUTION THAT SIGNAL DANGER AHEAD.
• SOMETIMES IT’S THE JOB OF THE CHRISTIAN TO ISSUE THE NECESSARY WARNING.
• THAT CAN BE HARD TO DO IN A WAY THAT IS DOES MORE GOOD THAN HARM.
• ONE OF THE SADDEST THINGS IN LIFE IS REGRET.
• WE NEVER WANT TO HEAR ANYONE SAY “I WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN IN THIS SITUATION IF YOU HAD ONLY WARNED ME.”
• THINK ABOUT IT, SOME OF THE BEST TEACHERS WE HAD,
• IF THEY EVER GOT ON OUR CASES, THEY DID IT WITH AN ARM WRAPPED AROUND US.
• WHEN CHRISTIANS HAVE TO SERVE AS WARNING LIGHTS,
• LET’S REMEMBER NOT TO WARN IN ANGER, NOT BECAUSE WE’RE IRRITATED, NOT TO BE CRITICAL OR CONDEMMING.
• DON’T WARN SOMEONE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO HURT THEM.
• BE A LOVING WARNING LIGHT.
• THE LIGHT THAT CAN BE SEEN. THE LIGHT THAT GUIDES. THE LIGHT THAT WARNS IN LOVE.
• THESE ARE ALL THE LIGHTS THAT A CHRISTIAN IS CALLED TO BE.
MATTHEW 5:16 – IN THE SAME WAY, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE
OTHERS, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS AND GLORIFY YOUR
FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.
• SO HOW DO WE SHINE FOR GOD? IN TWO IMPORTANT WAYS.
• FIRST – MEN ARE TO SEE OUR GOOD DEEDS.
• IN GREEK THERE ARE TWO WORDS FOR “GOOD”.
• AGATHOS – MEANS GOOD IN QUALITY.
• AND KALOS – WHICH MEANS MORE THAN GOOD - BUT BEAUTIFUL AND ATTRACTIVE.
• IN MATTHEW 5:16 THE WORD JESUS USES IS KALOS.
• THAT MEANS THE “GOODNESS” OF THE CHRISTIAN IS NOT ONLY “GOOD”,
• IT IS ATTRACTIVE.
• SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT TRUTH AND GOODNESS SHOULD BE HARD AND COLD.
• JESUS DIDN’T. HE KNEW THAT THERE WAS A GOODNESS THAT ATTRACTS AND A GOODNESS THAT PUSHES PEOPLE AWAY.
• JESUS PRACTICED GOODNESS WITH CHARM – AND THAT MADE IT A BEAUTIFUL THING.
• SECONDLY – JESUS MEANT FOR OUR GOOD WORKS TO DRAW ATTENTION TO HIM.
• A THEATRICAL GOODNESS MEANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO MYSELF IS NOT WHAT JESUS COMMANDED.
• GOODNESS THAT IS SELF CONCIOUS IS NOT THE GOODNESS OF JESUS.
• CHRISTIANS NEVER SHOULD TAKE CREDIT FOR WHAT GOD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR.
• SO DON’T THINK OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE OR CAN DO,
• THINK OF WHAT GOD CAN ALLOW AND ENABLE YOU TO DO.
• IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN THIS MORNING – HE HAS MADE YOU A LIGHT.
• A LIGHT MEANT TO BE SEEN BY OTHERS AS A GUIDE.
• SHOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS AND THE WARNING OF THE DANGERS ON THE ROAD TO HEAVEN.
• HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE A LIGHT?
• BY SHINING THE LIGHT OF JESUS LOVING SERVICE INTO THE DARK RECESSES OF THE WORLD SO THAT MEN WILL SEE HIS EXAMPLE.
• DRAWING ATTENTION, NOT TO OURSELVES, BUT TO THE LORD WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US.
• REMEMBER THE WORDS OF STRABO AS HE DESCRIBED THE PHAROS?
• “THOSE WHO WERE SAILING FROM THE OPEN SEA NEEDED SOME LOFTY AND CONSPICOUS SIGN TO ENABLE THEM TO DIRECT THEIR COURSE ARIGHT…”
• JESUS SAID “LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE”.
• BE A CONSPICUOUS SIGN FOR HIM THAT DIRECTS SOMEONE THROUGH THE PERIOLOUS SEA OF LIFE,
• HOME TO HIM IN HEAVEN.
