Jesus Is The Lighthouse

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

John 8:12

Shipping was important in early American life. Ships and boats were how people and goods were transported. But shipping could be dangerous. There were storms, sandbars, shallow water, and rocky coastlines. If a ship was wrecked, people and cargo would be lost. Before lighthouses were built to guide ships, lanterns or fires were used. But each region used a different system of where and how the lanterns or fires would be lit, and that got confusing. So lighthouses were built.

The most important job of a lighthouse is to shine a bright light at night. Sometimes the light shows where the harbor is. Other times it helps the ship move around hazards. At night a sailor can look at a light and know which lighthouse it is by its characteristics. For instance, the sailor might recognize the lighthouse because the light flashes every ten seconds. Lighthouses were the best way to keep ships safe at night and during storms.

Just as a lighthouse guides ships to safety and helps them steer around danger, Jesus is the light that guides people to salvation and provides spiritual direction. God sent Jesus into a world dark with sin in order to be the light. Jesus paid the price for sin so that salvation could be available to anyone who believes. Maybe some of your friends and the people around you are adrift in a sea of spiritual darkness. Maybe they don’t know where to find peace and forgiveness.

As God’s princess, you can reflect Jesus’ light to the world. Jesus lights your life with love each day. He helps you stand out in the dark world. Through the goodness and love that fill your life, others can be drawn to the Savior.

Have you ever seen a lighthouse? What was it like? If you haven’t, maybe that is something you could visit on your next family vacation. Find out the history of the lighthouse and how the lighthouse keeper would keep the light shining bright. If you can’t visit a lighthouse, ask a parent to help you find a website that shows how a lighthouse works. How is a lighthouse like Jesus’ work in drawing others to himself?