Keep The Lower Lights Burning :: By Dennis Huebshman
First, a bit of history. Lighthouses were built along the east and west sea coasts, the Gulf shore, and along the shorelines of the Great Lakes. In harbors that had large rocks near the shore, lower lights would be installed to help the ship pilots avoid them. Gaps in the lights would signify a hazard for the ships to avoid. (ESV – All emphasis mine)
D.L. Moody told a true story of a ship on Lake Erie that was trying to make it into the Cleveland Harbor in a fierce storm. The lighthouse there was visible, but not the lower lights. Believing that the lower lights had gone out during the storm, the captain decided to try and enter the harbor anyway. The ship subsequently crashed into rocks, and over 200 people lost their lives.
Philip P. Bliss heard this story and, in 1871, wrote the hymn, “Let The Lower Lights Be Burning.” The message in this hymn has significant meaning even in today’s dark, evil world.
1.) Brightly beams our Father’s mercy from His Lighthouse evermore. But to us, He gives the keeping of the lights along the shore.
Ref.) Let the lower lights be burning; send a beam across the wave. Some poor fainting struggling seaman you may rescue, you may save.
2.) Dark the night of sin has settled; loud the angry bellows roar. Eager eyes are watching, longing, for the lights along the shore. (Ref)
3.) Trim your feeble lamp, my brother; some poor seamen tempest-tossed, trying now to make the harbor, in the darkness may be lost. (Ref)
John 1:4-5; “In Him was life and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 8:12; “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.'”
John 9:4-5; “We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night is coming where no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”
Matthew 5:14-16; “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 in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works, and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.”
The Bible is full of verses referencing light in some manner or another. Our main “Lighthouse” is Jesus the Christ, our Redeemer, Savior, and Shepherd. The “lower lights” would be all who are followers of our Savior. By not following and joining in all the evil that is taking place today, we would stand out in a way that honors our Heavenly Father. It has consequences, as the world finds it hard to accept us.
Jesus said we would be hated for His name’s sake, but those who endure to the end will be saved (Matthew 10:22). This does not mean we are to be obnoxious or everbearing but to live in a manner that those of the world can see a difference in us.
When we are questioned about our mannerisms, 1 Peter 3:15 states, “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as Holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the Hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
Our Savior was prepared to give the “gospel,” which means “good news,” to any who would listen. He did so in a straightforward manner, and for the benefit of many, He would often use parables. Those who could not grasp the meaning of the word of Salvation could often relate through the examples, or parables, that Jesus gave them. Even His own disciples questioned Him at times as to the meaning of some parables. Jesus did not stand on street corners holding up signs and shouting at everyone who went by. He spoke in a way that was pleasing to the crowds that drew near to hear Him.
People saw that there was something special in the way Jesus presented Himself. The miracles of healing and being able to feed thousands with a scant food supply went a long way as well.
His harshest words were saved for the so-called religious leaders who treated the people poorly and demanded attention and respect. They did everything they could to try and trap Him but normally fell far short of their goal.
One example of a “lower light” could be the Samaritan woman Jesus met at the well. Initially, she doubted that He was the Messiah, but after a conversation with Him, she became a believer. She told the people of her town about the meeting, and many of them met with Jesus. Her words sparked their interest, but when they met Him for themselves, they became true believers. And in John 4:42, the verse ends with “…and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”
The ways of this world today are getting more evil as each day passes. Anyone who is a true believer stands out as being different. Many of the radical left people, and all the alphabet people, claim that we are “haters” because we don’t condone their activities. We are commanded to love everyone, and we do so for the sake of their immortal souls. We just don’t like what they do and may not even like them personally.
Before anyone says this is double-talk, Jesus loved everyone and even asked forgiveness for those who crucified Him. However, He made it clear that He did not personally like most of the Sadducees and Pharisees because of their mockery of the true word of the Father. He was willing to offer forgiveness and Salvation to any who would turn away from the evil and to accept Him as the true Son of the Living God.
The same holds true for all humans who are alive today. Any who will turn away from their sins and call on Jesus to be their Savior will be saved (Romans 10:13). The thief on the cross next to Jesus who repented was saved at that very moment, and Jesus promised that he would be with Him in paradise that very day (Luke 23:40-43). This tells us that Paul’s statement, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain… to depart and be with Christ” (Philippians 1:21, 23), verifies that at our last breath here, all believers will be with Jesus.
The negative side would be to take your last breath here without Jesus as your Savior. The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16:16-33 shows that Lazarus died and was in paradise, but the Rich Man died and was already in torment. All who pass from this earth without Jesus as Savior will be scheduled for the White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15 but will already have been in torment up until that time.
This can be turned around today for all who are now lost but are willing to receive and accept Jesus as their Savior. Follow the simple steps of Romans 10:9-13, and be assured of a home with Jesus forever.
The Lighthouse stands as our guide to the Heavenly shore. We, as lower lights, try to get His true word out so others may safely reach that Heavenly shore. God will force no one to accept Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, but all who reject Him will “crash” into eternal torment. It’s totally up to each individual to make their own personal choice of where they will spend eternity.
Call on Jesus today; tomorrow could be too late.
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
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