Lessons From The
Outer Beacon:
While on short missions’
trip to Portland, Maine where I was able to assist Pastor Perry Jones and the
Port City Baptist Church with some visitation, street evangelism,
encouragement, preaching, and building repairs, I was privileged to visit the
Portland Head Light. I am a fan and an admirer of lighthouses although I have
only seen 3 in my short life. It was definitely a highlight of my life. As I
gazed at the beautiful structure which had saved many lives and ships from
destruction in years gone by, I could not help but wonder how many lives were
being spared by its beaming light across the darkened waters warning the sea
goers of the perilous rocks lining the shore.
It became apparent to me that the tourist attraction was a
thing of the past. The beaming light still shone roundabout but the
effectiveness of its purpose was long since passed. With modern technology and advanced lighting
systems, the lighthouse has become a by-product of society. Everyone knows of
its location and some will testify of its beauty but the dependency of the
beacon has become lost in the present.
As I walked on the trails surrounding the historical lighthouse, I
became aware of a distant but faithful sound not too far from the shore. I
would estimate it to be one mile from the towering beacon. Out in the ocean
stood an outer beacon which stood maybe 2 stories above the waves on what I
suppose was a rocky ledge. The small brick building was not approachable by
foot and there was no dock to tie a boat to it. I doubt there was any way that
it could even be accessed to enter it. Yet, every 30 seconds it let out a 2
second warning. It did not have a light. It did not have visitors. It was
merely a brick beacon.
Back on the shore within 20 yards of the towering lighthouse
was a set of horns. I suspect they were fog horns. These were unattached and
seemed to be a monument reminding the tourists of how it used to be. During the
season when the fog was so thick that the light from the tower was not enough,
the lighthouse keeper would sound a fog horn or a bell to warn the ships of the
treacherous rocks to their portside. The horns and whistles and bells have all
but ceased. The light which shone abroad is still automated and ships are still
saved from the rocks. The light could only be seen during the darkest part of
the day unless one had trained their eye to watch the glow from within the
thick lens.
The freshly painted monument of historical value had been
the symbol of hope and a bulwark of safety, hope, and cheer to the sea driven
sailors of yesteryear. It has become a
marketed resource and popular among the maritime enthusiasts.
As I stood admiring the object of my longtime passion, I was
informed that the lighthouse was for sale to whomever could afford the upkeep. My heart flipped as I envisioned the beautiful
and historical Portland Head Light as being my very own lighthouse!
It was then that I was snapped back into reality by the same
informant explained that the beautiful popular and well-known lighthouse was
not for sale but the outer beacon, the same beacon which was out across the
waves sounding off repetitively day and night.
Who would want a beacon off the shore where nobody could get
to it? How could people get out to the beacon for pictures and sightseeing? How
else could people walk around its base or even climb into the tower to see the
light shining from inside its glass housing?
A lighthouse was never meant to be idolized, toured,
visited, or even admired. The lighthouse was to be a bulwark warning sea-goers
of the dangerous rocks and looming cliffs when others could not find their way
on their own. It wasn’t to be marketed.
It wasn’t to be effected by the world around it. It was to warn sailors of the
peril that they were steering towards.
How disturbing it is when we see people flocking to the
polished, refined, symbols of our faith but not heeding the message that is
being given faithfully of the rocks of sin and despair. People flock to the
decorative unused lighthouse instead of appreciating the outer beacon who
continued to do the work that it was made to do.
Believers, lets not be confused here. We aren’t to gaze at
the freshly painted landmark or to the noisy outer beacon. We should heed the
warning that is being resounded from within.
When the charismatic pastor fails and those who we have
fixed our attention to falls, lets realize our gaze was to be on Christ – not the
beacon that he was to be shining from.
Hebrews 12:1-2
“ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with
so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set
before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the
joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set
down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
