Before the days of GPS (global positioning system), ships at sea took bearings on a lighthouse to know what course to steer to arrive safely in the harbour. The bearings would be taken often as the ship approached the shore and plotted on a chart. The ship’s course would be changed to maintain a safe heading.

We can apply this to our Christian walk – keeping our course set on the Lord and regularly taking a bearing to check that we are still on a heading that lines up with His will.

Lighthouses did not only mark the entrance to the harbour. They also were used to keep ships well off the dangers of a shoal or reef. If a ship foundered and sank there was no hope for it, but we have a hope and the light for our way in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Photo: Prince Edward Island by Ron Hughes
© January 2008