Have you ever been out on a large lake, or even the ocean, at night? Over the centuries, thousands of ships have crashed and sunk during the night because they hit rocks or sandbars which they could not see. In an effort to save these sailors and their ships, communities would build lighthouses. These lighthouses were placed out on dangerous points to save boats from shipwreck and to point them toward safe harbor.
God is the creator of light (Genesis 1:3) and the Scripture tells us that “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). When Jesus came, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
Here is where things get amazing. When the grace of God works in our hearts and we repent of our sins and put our faith in Jesus, He sends His Spirit to live in our hearts. He makes His light to shine in us (2 Corinthians 4:6)!
Then Jesus tells his followers that “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house” (Matthew 5:14-15, NASB).
If Jesus has put his light in your heart, and in the hearts of your family members, then your home is now filled with light. Your home is now a lighthouse, and God wants your lighthouse to shine for Him.
There are families all around you who are in darkness and without hope. God has built your family, as a lighthouse, for them. Lighthouses are always put in strategic places, often in dangerous places, where they are most needed. Did you know that God has placed your family in a specific place because you are needed there?
It only takes a little bit of light to shine through the darkness. You can see a single candle flame from across an entire football field. If just one family will shine for Jesus, if just one family will stand for truth, other families can see the light and be saved.
Here are three action principles to help your “lighthouse” shine for Jesus.
1. Take care of your foundation. Lighthouses are always built with extraordinarily strong foundations. They need to endure continual punishment from wind, waves, and storms. Keep your foundation strong by regularly praying and reading the Bible together as a family.
2. Stay open for visitors. Your ordinary life shines for Jesus. You don’t need the cleanest home. You don’t need to be “ready” to entertain. Just open your doors. When your kids ask to have friends over, say “yes” as often as you can.
3. Keep your light on. Imagine a lighthouse keeper saying, “We have some cracks in our lighthouse, we need to turn off the light.” Or “We have some bricks missing, so we are not going to shine the light today.” That would be ridiculous. A lighthouse can still shine even with cracks and missing bricks. Our families are no different. We can still shine for Christ even though we are struggling with conflicts, anxiety, and discouragement.
Talk and pray as a family about how God can use your home to be a light in this world of darkness. “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in Heaven” (Matthew 5:16, NASB).
Shalom from Uganda! this Teaching is so amazing, It’s true that we should let our House to be as the Light so that people can come for the light.
This is exactly what I’m doing here in my home.
I’m ta king care for three Lam people, two of them cannot walk, they just use weel chair. one can walk.
So people said why a m taking about them, but me and my wife we said no this is what God wants us to do; they are also GOD’S image.
Thank you for this wonderful Teaching.