LIGHTHOUSE!

That’s a lighthouse on the Isle of Skye, in Scotland, warning sailors of a treacherous coastline and a hazardous reef.

These structures have become icons in narrative and lore, symbolic of safety, beacons shining for the welfare of the public, revealing things honest, just, pure, and good. They appear on license plates, logos of organizations, in songs, poems, and movies. And, despite the advent of electronic navigational aids that have rendered lighthouses a thing of the past, they remain popular tourist attractions. There’s something fascinating about a lighthouse.

Dwight L. Moody, the famous evangelist and preacher of yesteryear (1837–1899), once said: “A holy life will make the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine.”

Lighthouses just shine! That’s what Christians are called to do: shine. Shine … to manifest what?

A long time ago (1648), the Westminster Shorter Catechism declared: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” That’s the chief end of mankind—to shine forth God’s glory. That’s what believers are called to do: “shine God’s glory”!

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;
Sing the glory of His name;
Make His praise glorious.
Psalm 66:1–2

“Shining God’s glory” is appropriate, because there is something splendorous, brilliant, fiery, and effulgent about God’s glory.

The glory of the LORD
rested on Mount Sinai ….
And to the eyes of the sons of Israel
the appearance of the glory of the LORD
was like a consuming fire
on the mountain top.
Exodus 24:16–17

Fiery glory. Brilliant glory. Radiant glory. Dazzling glory.

So how does one “shine God’s glory”?

Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD
the glory due to His name;
Worship the LORD in holy array.
Psalm 29:1–2

So here’s an axiom: Our lighthouse-function is to “shine God’s glory” by conforming to His holiness. The apostle Peter agrees.

But you are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation, …
so that you may
proclaim the excellencies of Him
who has called you out of darkness
into His marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9

That’s what we have been called to do: to proclaim His excellencies, i.e., to “shine God’s glory” by being like Him in his holiness.

… He chose us …
that we would be holy
and blameless before Him.
Ephesians 1:4

And that’s how God intends for Himself to be glorified—by His holiness being displayed, “shined” forth. Holiness is the consistent way in which God’s glory is manifest.

I will show myself holy
among those who are near me,
and before all the people
I will be glorified.
Leviticus 10:3

We are to be shining for His glory, by being holy. Always. Everywhere.

So whether you eat or drink
or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

We lighthouses have our work cut out for us, don’t we?

… like the Holy One who called you,
be holy yourselves also
in all your behavior.
1 Peter 1:15

And thus we shall be lighthouses to a dark world—symbolic of safety, beacons of truth, glorifying God.

“You are the light of the world.
A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
nor does anyone light a lamp
and put it under a basket,
but on the lampstand ….
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

Let’s keep those lights burning, for God’s glory!