Many lonely sailors have been cheered by the flashing signal from Minot's Ledge Lighthouse off the coast of Scituate, Massachusetts. The signal that flashes intermittently spells out the words "I love you" in nautical code. Several years ago the Coast Guard decided to replace the old equipment. They announced that for technical reasons the new machines would not be able to flash the "I love you" message any longer. The public, however, protested, and the Coast Guard relented. The old equipment remains and continues to send its message of love to the ships out at sea.
This is a great story with an even greater message, but the greatest message you can ever hear is this: "God loves you.” The message that should be on the lips of every Christian as they move about amongst their friends and acquaintances is, “God loves you.” The Bible says “God is love” (1 John 4:8). That we are loved by God is a fact that all people need to know. Let us take a few moments now and listen as the Apostle John, the beloved Apostle, drives this point home.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:7-12 [ESV])
When we read these words penned by John we gain a remarkable insight into the very character of God. Love is Who He is! Love is a fundamental quality of God. In fact, it is so fundamental to the character of God that without love God would not exist. And the alternative is equally as true. God is love, which means that love is God. Love would not exist without God being and existing!
When I read this story of Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse I cannot help but be reminded of God and His love for mankind because not only does the word of God define our Lord as a God Who is love, it also tells us He is light. John tells us in 1 John 1:5 [ESV], “This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” So just as that lighthouse of love off the coast of Massachusetts has been sending forth its beam of love and guiding countless sailors through many a dark and turbulent night out at sea, God’s word sheds His light and His love upon all of mankind, leading us through the turbulent waters of sin, sorrow and dismay, and into the salvation of His Son, Jesus Christ.
- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Lakeland Church of Christ in Mattoon, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://lakelandchurchofchrist.web.officelive.com/default.aspx
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