One of my favorite things about visiting the Great Lakes is all the lighthouses you will see. There are hundreds of them that dot the shorelines, and they are all shapes and sizes.
I loved this picture my husband took of the inner and outer pier lighthouses at St. Joseph. He caught them at just the right time. Both lights happened to revolve and shine simultaneously.
These lights have an important job. They guide boats to safety and give warnings of danger. They penetrate the darkness of night and of storms to bring aid and safety.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.
This verse is part of the Sermon on the Mount, and Jesus is instructing His followers how to live. Here He is telling them that, just like the lamp on a stand, they are to let their light shine before others.
What does Jesus mean by their “light?” Jesus refers to good works, but it goes further than that. The good works are not to be merely good works alone, but are to be accompanied by the message of the Gospel, the hope and Good News of Jesus Christ. In addition, the good works are not to bring recognition to self, but glory to God. Neither lamp stands nor lighthouses ever shine upon themselves, but instead, away from themselves.
The good works we do can be an avenue to bring the Gospel message into the lives of others and glory to the Lord. In this way, we function similarly to a lighthouse, bringing aid and help to those around us who are in the darkness by sharing God’s love and plan for them. How can we allow our light to shine today?
