“Stewards Of The Lighthouse”
An interesting auction took place a few days ago: an aging and rusting lighthouse was sold by the U.S. government to a yet-unnamed bidder. Situated in the Chesapeake Bay, the structure sits in the water with no easy way to approach it. It’s in great need of repair, and has asbestos and lead paint to make spending time inside the lighthouse hazardous. When the bidding opened, $15,000 was the asking price (quite a chunk of change, if you ask me).
As often happens in auctions, the bidding got into a frenzy. When the gavel finally landed, the lighthouse had sold for $192,000! We have to wonder if the winning bidder soon had regrets over their purchase, given the obligation they also inherited to keep the lighthouse in working condition.
The sale of government-owned lighthouses has been going on since 2000, an article in the Washington Post states. 148 have been auctioned or sold in that time period. Three lighthouses in the Florida Keys have sold for prices ranging from $415,000 to $860,000. We’re not sure what the new owners will do with their new acquisitions, though some will be turned into overnight rentals. But not the one in the Chesapeake Bay.
Christians can identify with some elements of this news story. When we accepted the gift of salvation made possible by Jesus Christ, we also were handed the keys to our own personal lighthouse. Here’s how Jesus said it in Matthew 5:14,15: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 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.”
The purpose of a lighthouse is to show the path of safety to ships at sea; their lights need to be always burning in the dark. In the same way, Christians are to always have their lights burning so weary travelers through life will see the way that is safe and sure.
“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning,” Jesus said in Luke 12:35. He said that while speaking about the unknown time of His return: “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Luke 12:40). We are stewards of the lighthouse the Lord has entrusted us with; we simply must keep the lamps burning.
Fanny J. Crosby lived in darkness for almost the entirety of her life, losing her vision as an infant. But she came to “see” that the Gospel is good news for mankind. These words from her song, “Will Jesus Find Us Watching”, speak about our stewardship: “When Jesus comes to reward His servants, whether it be noon or night, faithful to Him will He find us watching, with our lamps all trimmed and bright?”
Why be so diligent about keeping the light of our discipleship burning? “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them” (Luke 12:37). Imagine that! The Lord having us sit down and Him serving us?! All He asks of us is that we be faithful to our charge, to keep our lights burning brightly for others to see.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2022, Timothy D. Hall