I don’t know if it is their location (i.e. near the sea, which I adore) that attracts me, or the infinite variety of shape and type; maybe it is the historical architecture that draws me, or perhaps their stories (lighthouses always seem to have stories). Maybe it is just that they are so pretty at night… I have always loved night.

I grew up on the coast, and there were several lighthouses that could be seen from our lounge room window on a clear night.

I recently saw someone say of lighthouses

“they communicate to my heart and soul…I’ve been won over by them because to me, they speak of strength, consistency, loyalty, humility and direction. Lighthouses need not blow horns to call attention to themselves, they just stand in all their splendor and simply SHINE!” (emphasis mine).

So often we refer to Christians as needing to be a Lighthouse, or Jesus as a Lighthouse. I like the thought that a lighthouse needs not “call attention to themselves… simply shine”. Nevertheless, it is interesting that the illustration is unknown in the bible (I guess you would need a mighty big candle to have an effective lighthouse back then )*

Still, there are some great scriptures that have similar meanings.

Psalm 18:28 For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. (CEV)

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (KJV)

Proverbs 6:23 The Law of the Lord is a lamp, and its teachings shine brightly. Correction and self-control will lead you through life. (CEV)

Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: (KJV)

Proverbs 13:9 The lamp of a good person keeps on shining; the lamp of an evil person soon goes out. (CEV)

Proverbs 20:27 Our inner thoughts are a lamp from the LORD, and they search our hearts. (CEV)

Isaiah 62:1 For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until its righteousness goes out as brightness, and her salvation as a burning lamp. (MKJ)

Matthew 5:15 and no one would light a lamp and put it under a clay pot. A lamp is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to everyone in the house. (CEV)

Luke 8:16 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl or under a bed. A lamp is always put on a lampstand, so that people who come into a house will see the light. (CEV)

Luke 11:33-36 No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a clay pot. A lamp is put on a lampstand, so that everyone who comes into the house can see the light. Your eyes are the lamp for your body. When your eyes are good, you have all the light you need. But when your eyes are bad, everything is dark. So be sure that your light isn’t darkness. If you have light, and nothing is dark, then light will be everywhere, as when a lamp shines brightly on you. (CEV)

2Peter 1:19 All of this makes us even more certain that what the prophets said is true. So you should pay close attention to their message, as you would to a lamp shining in some dark place. You must keep on paying attention until daylight comes and the morning star rises in your hearts. (CEV)

Kiluea Lighthouse

So…

1. The Lord God is a light
2. The word of God is a light
3. The commandment of God is a light
4. The law of God is a light
5. The lamp of a good person keeps shining
6. Our inner thoughts are a lamp from the Lord
7. Righteousness is a light, and salvation is a lamp
8. A lamp is for sharing
9. A lamp is to be used, not hidden from others, and not covered over
10. The “internal eye” (or self-awareness) causes us to see clearly – if we do not have good self-awareness, we can see nothing
11. The lamp communicates a message that is needed until Jesus comes again, when all the world will be in light, and even more in the hearts of believers

Pretty cool!

*Seems I underestimated the architectural abilities and desires of the ancient world… The first known lighthouse was at Alexandria.