I love the phrase “Doing Life Together” in fact I first come across the phrase in one of my favorite books “The Purpose Driven Life”. Many churches use that as part of their logo, including mine. Doing life together in our churches means that we have a sanctuary to go to with people who believe as we do. Jesus talked much in the bible about this very thing. “We are to strengthen the Brethren”! But let us not get so comfy that we forget the lost!
It seems there was an old lighthouse that was really an eye sore for the community. It was old and greatly in need of repair. The window shutters hung haphazardly, the paint was peeling and much of the window glass was broken. The only thing that did remain in working order was the old lamp that the lighthouse keeper lit every night like clockwork. The lighthouse keeper was much like the structure he loved, old and in bad repair. In his youth, he flew up the stairs to do his duty but now moved slowly up the stairs to the top of the lighthouse, his knees cracked and he stopped many times to rest but he felt such a calling to keep his lamp lit in case some ship might not know her way. His many years of service had called him several times to risk his life to show a wayward ship the way to safety.
The dignified little village that surrounded the lighthouse was clean, well maintained and was talked about throughout that area for it neat appearance. The lighthouse was a topic of discussion at the town meeting where it was decided that it should be torn down if they were maintain their good standing. As this news came to the keeper of the lighthouse he determined that to the last minute he would make his nightly trip to the top to light the lamp. As he lit the lamp and made his way down the stairs the strong wind blew so hard he could hardly stand and the chill made him shiver. As he settled into his little cottage next to the lighthouse, he could not get the lighthouse and its fate out of his mind. Who would be a light for the lost now that this light would go out? Sometime during his ponderings he heard voices. It had been some time since he had heard the desperate pleading of someone lost at sea but sure enough he heard voices. He ran out just as the battered boat pulled into the tiny harbor. Grateful voices greeted him and thanked him for the light that led them to safety. As in years gone by he ran for blankets to warm these strangers as well as hot coffee to take off the chill.
As word traveled around town about the rescue another meeting was called but this time it was about restoring the old lighthouse. The people were proud that “their” lighthouse had saved these lives. Everyone went to work getting the grand structure back to its original beauty. It was so beautiful that they decided they should make it a meeting place, a place where the towns people could come in and enjoy the beauty.
As time went on the people forgot about the lamp and the lost because they were so involved in the socializing that went on at their newly decorated lighthouse. The lighthouse keeper still lit the lamp and attended the wicks but had to find his way through a maze of pretty furniture and fine wares to get up to the lamp. One particularly bad stormy season the lighthouse saved many from a watery death but when they were brought into the finely carpeted lighthouse the townspeople did not give them a warm welcome. Instead, another meeting was called to discuss the fact that these who were brought ashore by the light from the lighthouse made such a mess on the new floor and furniture and besides interrupted the meetings that were going on in the lighthouse. It was decided that the “lost” just didn’t fit in so the lamp would no longer stand as a beacon to safety. This time the old keeper had no choice but to stop lighting the lamp and the lost perished for lack of light.
When I think of ministering to the lost, I think of my son-in-law Shane Smith. When I met Shane he was a feisty, handsome young man with a heart on fire for the lost. So many times when we were out as a family I remember Shane witnessing to strangers that I probably walked around not even noticing. Many of these people listened to the words of this young evangelist and went on their way but several came to his church. He served as a youth pastor for many years and brought in a motley looking bunch of people seeking God. I remember one time he was approached by a “committee” of people who didn’t like the appearance of the lost people who attended his youth meetings. They were scruffy, crude and left people to ask what kind of church was this? His answer to that question then and now is we are a people “doing life together” but at the same time we are a beacon of hope for those who do not know Christ! The world is a shivering wet mess, may we never get so comfortable that we forget to trim the lamp so they know where to come.
Many years ago I came across a story that I will try to relay to you in my own words, I don‘t remember the title or author but here it is paraphrased (by Jeanie).
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