OBX Lighthouse Tour

This past weekend, my parents came to the beach to celebrate Mother's Day and my birthday. For some reason, I have always loved lighthouses (notice the lighthouse theme for my blog), so we decided to visit several of them on the way to Ocracoke Island. Cape Hatteras is on the left, Ocracoke in the middle, and Bodie Island on the right.

I started thinking this week about why I like lighthouses. A few thoughts come to mind:

Christ said, "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in the darkness" (John 12:46). Lighthouses shine bright in the darkness. They remind me to be grateful that through faith in Jesus, I no longer have to live in a dark, hopeless world. Second, just as Christ is a light, we are called to be light, as well. Jesus instructed his disciples, "Let you light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). I pray that God's light would shine through me so that others will come to know Christ as their Savior. And lastly, lighthouses remind me that I'm called to be a watchman. A slightly morbid Nickel Creek song ("The Lighthouse's Tale") says this: "I am a lighthouse, worn by the weather and the waves. I keep my lamp lit to warn the sailors on their way." Lighthouses are meant to warn boaters so they don't end their journey in destruction. The LORD calls the prophet Ezekiel to be a watchmen and to bring a message of warning to God's people. Ezekiel tells them to turn from their sin and return to their covenant God. If they did not, they would face destruction because of their rebellion. I'm also commissioned to call others to repentance and to a true love for God. This passage is becoming relevant now as I see God using Ezekiel's visions to guide our youth ministry (more on that later, it's pretty exciting!).

So, my lighthouse tour will continue northward in a few weeks to Currituck where my aunt and uncle work. I'll make sure I post another picture. Until then, GO LIGHT YOUR WORLD!