Matthew 5:14-16 - Magnifying Light

 

"On November 28, 1905, a single storm damaged 29 ships" on Lake Superior. By 1910, the Split Rock lighthouse had been added to a growing number of lighthouses on the Great Lakes. (1) Over 200 of them are still in operation. (2)

While Split Rock Lighthouse is no longer active, visitors can now climb to the top where the light mechanism is still mounted.

The bulb itself was an oil vapor lamp, mounted on a rotating platform. It is surrounded by a Fresnel lens, an "intricate system of prisms that collected light... and bent it into a powerful, focused beam of warning... to a range of 22 miles." (3)

Lighthouses are built to guide ships into a harbor at night. Or, in this case, to warn sailors that they are approaching a rocky shore line.

Scripture has a paradox about light.

On one hand, Jesus 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, New Living Translation, 2015)

On the other hand, Jesus also said,
“14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14–16, New American Standard, 1995)

Who's the light of the world? Jesus... or us?

The resolution of the paradox is found in John's Gospel when Jesus said,
“...while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5, NLT)

That passage from Matthew 5 makes it clear that the light we shine should glorify God. Our light should always draw attention to its source.

The key phrase is "while I am here in the world, I am the light." When Jesus returned to heaven, His physical presence could no longer be a direct light. But where do we get any light to provide light for others?  It has been and always will be the same: Jesus Himself.

We are like a Fresnel lens. We don't change the nature of light. We simply concentrate the light, magnifying it as a warning against treacherous coastlines, and to guide others to safe harbor.

Lord God, The times in which we live aren't any darker than any other times in history. True darkness is living life apart from You. Magnify Your light in our lives to point the way for others to find their way home to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.


(1) https://www.mnhs.org/splitrock/learn/history
(2) https://www.greatlakescruises.com/great-lakes-lighthouses.html
(3) Informational diagram inside Split Rock lighthouse.

Photos by Ken Carlson, July 26, 2005