Lights Out?

A traveler visiting the lighthouse at Calais asked the keeper, "What if one of your lights should go out at night?" "Sir," he replied, "yonder are ships sailing to all parts of the world. If tonight one of my burners were out, in six months I might hear from America or India saying that on such a night the light of Calais Lighthouse gave no warning and some vessel had wrecked."

What a lesson to the people of God! Our lights must shine steadily that storm-tossed souls may be guided to Christ!

I would not give much for your religion unless it can be seen. Lamps do no talk; they shine. A lighthouse sounds no drum, it beats no gong; and yet far over the water its friendly spark is seen by the mariner. So let your actions shine out your religion. Let the main sermon of your life be illustrated by all your conduct and it shall not fail to be illustrious.

—C.H. Spurgeon

Deep in the caves of Venezuela in total darkness lives a bird known as the oil bird. These hawk-like birds leave their caves each night to feed on the many kinds of oily fruit which grow wild in the jungle. Their diet is so oily that their bodies are full of fat.

Poor people who lack money to buy oil, catch these birds for oil for their lamps. Yes, the birds themselves live in total darkness yet give up their lives to provide poor people with light so that they will not have to live in darkness.

The Lord Jesus came into this dark world—a world dark with sin—so that He might give up His life on the Cross and provide for all who trust in Him the Light of everlasting life.