Psalm 119:105 (ESV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
Ephesians 5:6-14
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
I mentioned in a podcast that I wanted to share with you why I sign my personal letters and emails with, “Keep The Light Burning!” Today, I want to give you some background and tell you a story that impressed me many years ago. Then I want to make a brief application.
I have a great fascination with the sea. My father was a career enlisted man of twenty-four years in the Navy and so, we generally lived by the ocean while I was growing up. I can stand by the ocean waves and stare out to sea for hours – I know that because I have.
Along with the allure of the sea, I am also captivated by lighthouses. Over the years, lighthouses have stood vigil by the ocean. They bid farewell to departing vessels and greet those who return. Year in and year out they stand watch, giving direction and safety to the ships. In the bygone eras Lighthouse Keepers were indispensable to the safety of seagoing vessels. They and their families were sometimes the only assistance some seamen would have.
In the mid-19th Century, Abbie Burgess did a remarkable feat as the young sixteen year old daughter of Lighthouse Keeper, Samuel Burgess. He was given the position of tending the twin lighthouse towers at the Matinicus Rock Lighthouse, Maine.
In January of 1856, Mrs. Burgess, an invalid, was ill, so Mr. Burgess decided to go to shore for medicine and other needed supplies. In order to go, he had to entrust his oldest daughter with the important role of keeping the lighthouses in his absence. As he pushed away in his rowboat he called to his daughter and said, “Keep the lights burning, Abbie”.
Lighthouse keeping was no easy task on good days. The lights had to be maintained. The wicks had to be trimmed. The lenses had to be kept clean of ocean spray. The keeper had to carry heavy buckets of oil up the stairs to burn in the lights. For Abbie, not only was there work in the lighthouse, but she would have to take care of her family and the animals on their island. But it gets even more difficult.
While her father was away, a storm rushed in from the sea. For about four weeks Abbie’s father was unable to return to the island, the lighthouses, and his family. Supplies on the island ran dangerously low. Abbie’s mother drifted in and out of consciousness as the storm raged. Their living quarters flooded and the family had to seek higher ground and moved into one of the lighthouses.
Yet, all through the storm, day and night, the lighthouses’ beams could be seen. If any ship was caught in the storm, they would be warned of dangerous rocks and reefs. The towers’ patterned flashes would identify their location. For those weeks, Abbie kept the lights burning!
I am impressed with the grit of that sixteen year old girl and her commitment to the task before her. That ultimately leads me to Jesus and the task before Him which He passed to us.
The Bible Contrasts Light and Darkness
A. Light was created in the midst of darkness – Genesis 1:1-5 (ESV)
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
Tohu (formless) v’vohu (and empty) – nothing was right about it – Yet, the HS hovered over the waters
Chaos was in the darkness as God began creation
Order began to follow as He creates Light
God spoke order into creation – light – stars – planets – earth – water – land – animals – people and said, “tov meod” –
There was order, shalom, all was functioning as God intended
B. The Storm – Mark 4:35-41
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
1. The storm on the sea starts with chaos – to the Jews the sea is chaos
• Satan is the King of Tohu and Darkness – he does anything he can to destroy God’s order (Shalom) because he loves tohu and hates shalom
• He convinces us that his tohu is shalom and God’s shalom is tohu – Jim Garlow: Satan has masterminded the destruction of family; children; gender
• Isaiah 5.20 (ESV)
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
2. Jesus wanted to go to the “other side” – we live in shalom, why go to tohu?
• The Jews had developed a way to resist Satan and avoid tohu at all costs
• Jesus is calling his disciples back to their/our mission – bringing shalom (to man in Gerasenes Mark 5)
• Satan wants to destroy that mission and keep people in the dark
C. Types of Darkness
1. Ignorance – 2 Corinthians 4:6 (ESV) For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2. Evil Activity – Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
3. A Deceptive Covering – 1 Corinthians 4:5 (ESV) Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
4. Unfruitful Works – Ephesians 5:11 (ESV) Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
5. Domination – 2 Peter 2:4 (ESV) For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;
Some Prefer Darkness
A. Some Prefer Ignorance – “Ignorance is Bliss” or “Don’t confuse me with the facts, I’ve made up my mind.”
B. Some Prefer Doing Evil over Doing Right
1. All of us at one time or another – Romans 3:23
2. Adam and Eve; Israel; Nineveh; Nebuchadnezzar; USA
C. Some Prefer Unfruitful Works over Productive Works – Matthew 12:33b (ESV) the tree is known by its fruit.
D. Some Prefer Domination Over Liberty
1. Children of Israel wanted to return to Egypt
2. Tories in American Revolution – preferred oppressive government over freedom – today, too
3. People in Bondage to sin
Light Brings Liberty
A. We NEED Light for Liberty [Statue of Liberty has greeted immigrants for years with the Light of Liberty
• We are a catalog of tohu – disease; disorder; job issues; family issues; etc.
• God’s mission is to fix what is broken
• To put people into shalom through Jesus requires us to partner with him
• Our mission is that everything we do is driven by bringing shalom to someone’s life
• The Jews understand the Kingdom of Heaven as the place where God brings shalom in his reign
B. Jesus’ Mission Was Light-Giving
1. Jesus = Light of the World – John 1:9 (ESV) The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
2. His Light is Greater than Darkness John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
3. John 8:12 (ESV) Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
4. John 9:5 (ESV) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
C. Our Mission is Light-Giving
1. Since Jesus has returned to the Father, Light is our mission, too – Matthew 5:14 (ESV) “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
2. We have a message of light in truth – Psalm 43:3 (ESV) Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!
D. So we “Keep The Light Burning” with:
1. The Light of Liberty – Luke 4:18 (ESV) (cf. Isaiah 61:1) “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
[There is a non-violent Biblical pattern for spiritual and national liberty – another podcast
2. The Light of God’s Love – John 15:13 (ESV) 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
Romans 5:8 (ESV) 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
a. Sacrificial Love – putting others ahead
b. Part of the American DNA because we were founded as a “Christian nation.”
c. Preamble to Constitution: “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,”
3. The Light of God’s Truth – John 8:31-32 (ESV) 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
In the Canadian province of New Brunswick there is a church building on Deer Island that for many years has served as a physical lighthouse to the fishermen of that community. It is not that the building has any unique architectural design that would resemble a nautical lighthouse. It fact, it resembles the style of many church buildings built a century ago.
It is the location of the building that makes it ideal as a lighthouse. The Worship House for the Church of Christ in Lord's Cove is elevated a few hundred feet higher than the Cove below.
For many years the fishermen returning to port could see the steeple of that Church building for miles from the water. In days before electronic equipment was installed in the 1960’s, fishermen would aim for the church building or the steeple’s light to guide them home when returning to port. That course of direction would guide them past all the ledges and shoals, and safely back to the home port.
Just as the physical light of that building was a light that led many safely home, so also the Light of Jesus Christ leads all who will follow his light to their heavenly home. As the “lower lights,” let us point people to Jesus who has secured our home with the Father.
Keep The Light Burning!
