But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.
I love the imagery of a lighthouse- the majesty and loneliness all wrapped up into one. To look at a lighthouse is to look upon a sentinel erected to protect, save, and point the way. All who pass by are shown the way; they are given a harbor in a storm. Lighthouses stand alone in a storm, or on a moonless night buffeted by the wind, pelted by the icy daggers of rain- a light in the darkness.
I liken a lighthouse to the Christian walk. Some days we feel like we have it all together and the light of Christ is shining off of us with the magnitude of a supernova and others we are standing alone being pelted by a cold and angry storm. Yet we are still called to stand.
Moses was called by God to Stand up for the Children of Israel. He was called to tell Pharaoh on behalf of the one true God to, “Let my people go.”
Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
God had called him to do a job and yet, Moses was afraid. Scripture tells us that he had some things to be concerned about. He was not Egyptian but a Jew saved from slaughter by his mother and taken in by the daughter of Pharaoh. That would be enough to concern me. But, that’s not all. We read in Exodus 2:
So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
Moses had committed murder and run from Egypt. He had stayed away for 40 years and made a life for himself and here was God, saying I am going to rescue my people and I will use you to do it. Needless to say Moses felt more than a little inadequate. He (Moses) protests, argues with God, saying that he is slow of speech and holding to his fear that no one will listen to him; not the Hebrews and certainly not Pharaoh! As we read, God will have none of it:
So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?
God is saying to Moses, “I am in charge here.” “Now go and do as you have been commanded.”
Before we fit Moses with a custom dunce cap, we should take stock in our own walk with the Lord. Have you ever run from a call of the Lord on your life? If you say no, then you are committing a sin; you’re lying! It is hard sometimes to stand up when God tells you to.
As I recently told a friend, it is okay to be afraid. It is a sign of our fleshly weakness; it is a sign of our humanity and, most importantly, an indication that we need God. We can not do anything apart from God. We can’t lead our families, have productive lives; we cannot do anything of real consequence if God is not with us. Those things we do apart from the will of God are built on sinking sand and will not last. As the poet C.T. Studd reminds us:
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
So, how do we deal with our fear? Just like Moses, we do have some things to be concerned about. The world we live in is growing more and more hostile to Christians as it moves toward a more tolerant world view. Simply speaking the truth can get you ostracized at the very least if not jailed or martyred.
As with everything Jesus is our example. First and foremost, scripture tells us that He left glory coming and living among us to serve and the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He paid a debit that was ours to shoulder and saved us from an eternity apart from the father and he asks for nothing in return other than acceptance of His eternal gift.
Luke 12:48 [Full Chapter]But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
Jesus’ sacrifice alone moves us to action, moves us to share the truth of the gospel, moves us to stand as a sentinel, a lighthouse on the rocks reflecting the light of Christ in an ever darkening world. And fear stimies our action.
Jesus, on the night of His betrayal shows us how to deal with fear: by going to the Father in prayer and trusting His plan for our lives.
Luke 22:42 [Full Chapter]saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”
The Christian walk can be lonely and, in these last days, there is much to fear. remember friends, just as a lighthouse is built on rock to withstand storms, we to are held steadfast in the truth of Jesus Christ. Trust in His promises.
Matthew 28:20 [Full Chapter]
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always,even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Grace & Peace,
LD
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