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The construction and stability of various lighthouses closely parallels the spiritual lives of God’s people.
The Umpqua Lighthouse in Oregon was originally built on the sandy shore of the Umpqua River where it flowed into the sea. The ground eroded after some time and the lighthouse fell into the surf! It was rebuilt on solid rock higher above the ocean where it stands secure today. In Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus says, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” The “Rock” is Jesus and faith in his word.
The enemies of the disciple of Christ are many. The lighthouse on Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay is inspiring. The first lighthouse established on the west coast, it was severely damaged by the 1906 earthquake. When a penitentiary was built on the island, the light had to be rebuilt much higher to shine out above its prison. In the 1960’s, during an Indian takeover of the island, the light was extinguished. The siege was ended, the light relit, and it shines brightly today.
Many Christians, in defense of their faith, have overcome amazing obstacles. The Tillamook Lighthouse is an example to us. It is set apart on a large rock some distance from the shoreline. During construction a worker was drowned, supplies were constantly lost; builders were cold, wet, hungry, and isolated. During high seas, rocks would pummel the building, making holes in the roof. The jewel was chipped, railings knocked down, keepers injured; yet this light burned faithfully for 77 years. Paul encourages us in II Cor. 4:8-10, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”
I want to share with you a wonderful promise that God makes to all who are facing the trial of their faith in Jesus. It is Romans 8:37-39. “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Let your light shine!
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Lighthouse Four