Matthew 5:13-16 "Be the Light"

Matthew 5:13-16 “Be the Light”

 

Black Holes: There are places in space where gravity is so powerful that even light cannot escape. A Black Hole takes everything in an allows nothing to be given out not even light. This is as far from God’s intension for the church as you can get. God wanted a beacon of faith for the entire world to see.

 

In the 1800’s shipping on the great lakes was booming. Ships loaded with iron ore sailed from the north to the mills in the south. Other cargo was shipped around the lakes. But the Great Lakes are a dangerous place where Iron deposits under the water make a compass spin. Ships would lose their way and crash upon the rocks. The first light house was built in 1825. Very slowly more would be added until the 1970’s modern navigation would take over. Churches are to be beacons of light helping the lost find their way home.

I was reading a book about Great Lakes lighthouses, most of which are no longer used. A story in the book told of a fisherman in Wisconsin, who lost his way and could not find the harbor. He suddenly saw a light from a long disserted light house. Using that light he found his way home. The lens of the light house had caught little bits of light, street lamps, headlights, porch light, no one really knows. Still all those lights came together to lead him safely home. That is the church.

 

You may think your light is no big deal, it’s not missed, but it is. You may think your light is so small of what use is it? But God wants it to shine.

 

John went to college and while there got into the life and party of being away and on his own. He stopped going to church and soon it was ten years later and he felt lost. He went back to his little church where he grew up. There was the light of his Sunday School teacher, the light of the old man who was always there, even older now. All around him he saw faith, and all that faith helped him decide to make a change.

 

Sally took a local job out of high school, got married has two kids, a dog, and a very busy life. The kids are now grown up and the house has a few quite moments, and the darkness sets in. She has gone to church off and on. But right now she needs help. Now the lights of friends from church help her find her way with a kind word, a thoughtful prayer, and invite to be part of the group. She is back to church and Bible study and her faith is growing again.

 

Alice died of cancer. She had great faith, everyone will tell you so. What most do not know was that there were many days she was frightened. On days when she struggled she would look around church and see others who believed and gained the strength to trust God through another day. Little lights of faith that never knew that they guided Alice home.

 

Each light in the church is important, needed, and valuable to us all. One day someone needs our light and on another we need theirs. And when all our lights come together we become a beacon that shines hope into a dark world. That is what it means to be a church.