The Light That Brings Salvation
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2)
In the nineteenth century, lighthouses on the U.S. coasts were tended by lighthouse keepers and their families. If a man who tended the light took ill or became disabled, often the work was picked up by his wife or children. Such was the case of Hosea Lewis. Having become the keeper of the light on Lime Rock Island at Newport, Rhode Island in 1854, Lewis suffered a stroke four years later, at which time his wife and teenage daughter Ida took over his duties. When Mrs. Lewis died in 1879 Ida was commissioned with full responsibility for keeping the light. Near the entirety of Ida’s life was dedicated to making sure the light was shining. Her duties included cleaning the reflectors, trimming the wick, and filling the oil reservoir at sunset and midnight – as well as caring for her siblings and her ailing mother. With long and demanding tasks, Ida was unable to continue her own schooling, but daily delivered her brothers and sisters to class, whatever the weather, by rowing the 500 yards to the mainland. In the mid-1800s, it was unusual to see a woman maneuvering a boat, but Ida became well skilled and well known for handling the heavy craft.
At age 16 Ida gained a measure of fame when she rescued four young men after their boat capsized. She rowed to their aid, hearing their screams as they clung to their overturned craft. Early in 1867 Ida hauled in three more men whose boat had been swamped by heavy seas. After getting the men safely to shore she noticed a sheep they had been transporting still out in the water. She put her boat back in the water and even saved the drowning animal. On March 29, 1869, Ida saved two drowning servicemen from nearby Fort Adams. Public knowledge of Ida’s courage spread as far as Washington, inspiring President Ulysses S. Grant to visit Ida at Newport later that year. Ida rescued another two soldiers in 1881, for which she was awarded the U.S. Lifesaving Service’s highest medal. In early February of that year two soldiers were crossing from Newport to Lime Rock Island on foot when the ice gave way. Ida came running with a rope. Ignoring the danger to herself from weak and rotten ice, she pulled one, then the other to safety. All told, Ida Lewis personally saved between 25 - 35 people in fifty-plus years of keeping the light. The total number is uncertain since she never kept records of those she saved. Her last reported rescue came at age 63 when she saved a friend who had fallen into the water on her way to visit Ida on the island. Asked where she found strength and courage for such a feat, Ida answered: “I don’t know, I ain’t particularly strong. The Lord Almighty gives it to me when I need it, that’s all.” Ida Lewis was called “the bravest woman in America” by several periodicals of her day. She died in 1911, having suffered a stroke while still tending the light. In her honor the station was renamed the Ida Lewis Light. Her former residence has now become the home of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club. There is also a United States Coast Guard buoy tender that bears her name. Ida Lewis did more than polish the lenses of a light house. She herself became a beacon of light and life for many people who would have drowned if she had not rescued them.
Lights have always been an intricate part of celebrating Christmas. For some it’s a simple candle in the window. Others take the time to modestly outline their home with light to celebrate the Christmas season. And of course there is always that one obsessive individual who drains the power grid with more glitzy lights around his home than the average city uses. I can’t really imagine Christmas without a celebration of light. And I kind of think that’s the way God intended it to be. The only decoration, which I’m sure existed during that first Christmas celebration, was a light our Lord hung in the sky. It signified something special had just happened. The prophesized Messiah had come. His arrival was heralded by a star which guided wise men to his location. After arriving in Jerusalem they started asking everyone, “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him.” The King had arrived and their response was to bow in worship before him. The light was more than just a beacon that guided them as they journeyed. It meant salvation was available. It meant there was hope. It meant God had not forgotten or abandoned his promise to send a deliverer.
Like Ida from the story above, “we ain’t all that strong,” but through the gift of Jesus, God has provided what we need the most. On that first Christmas day what we needed most was to be rescued. We needed a light that would show us the way to safety. We needed a life saver who would have the power to calm the high waves and speak peace into our lives. We needed someone to come and pull us out of the deep waters and bring us safely home. We needed a light to shine in the darkness so all hope would not be lost. What we needed most was a Savior and a Rescuer for our souls. God created a star and announced, “He’s here.” Jesus, the Light and the Glory of heaven had arrived to save those drowning in sin. The light that brings salvation broke into the arena of human history to rescue us. Our Savior had been born. The angels sang. The shepherds ran. The wise men journeyed. And the world still celebrates. Receive him as your Lord and Savior today and He will deliver you safe from harm. “Joy to the World. The Lord has come! Let earth receive her King!” Amazing.
Live the Victorious Life,
PT
In the nineteenth century, lighthouses on the U.S. coasts were tended by lighthouse keepers and their families. If a man who tended the light took ill or became disabled, often the work was picked up by his wife or children. Such was the case of Hosea Lewis. Having become the keeper of the light on Lime Rock Island at Newport, Rhode Island in 1854, Lewis suffered a stroke four years later, at which time his wife and teenage daughter Ida took over his duties. When Mrs. Lewis died in 1879 Ida was commissioned with full responsibility for keeping the light. Near the entirety of Ida’s life was dedicated to making sure the light was shining. Her duties included cleaning the reflectors, trimming the wick, and filling the oil reservoir at sunset and midnight – as well as caring for her siblings and her ailing mother. With long and demanding tasks, Ida was unable to continue her own schooling, but daily delivered her brothers and sisters to class, whatever the weather, by rowing the 500 yards to the mainland. In the mid-1800s, it was unusual to see a woman maneuvering a boat, but Ida became well skilled and well known for handling the heavy craft.
At age 16 Ida gained a measure of fame when she rescued four young men after their boat capsized. She rowed to their aid, hearing their screams as they clung to their overturned craft. Early in 1867 Ida hauled in three more men whose boat had been swamped by heavy seas. After getting the men safely to shore she noticed a sheep they had been transporting still out in the water. She put her boat back in the water and even saved the drowning animal. On March 29, 1869, Ida saved two drowning servicemen from nearby Fort Adams. Public knowledge of Ida’s courage spread as far as Washington, inspiring President Ulysses S. Grant to visit Ida at Newport later that year. Ida rescued another two soldiers in 1881, for which she was awarded the U.S. Lifesaving Service’s highest medal. In early February of that year two soldiers were crossing from Newport to Lime Rock Island on foot when the ice gave way. Ida came running with a rope. Ignoring the danger to herself from weak and rotten ice, she pulled one, then the other to safety. All told, Ida Lewis personally saved between 25 - 35 people in fifty-plus years of keeping the light. The total number is uncertain since she never kept records of those she saved. Her last reported rescue came at age 63 when she saved a friend who had fallen into the water on her way to visit Ida on the island. Asked where she found strength and courage for such a feat, Ida answered: “I don’t know, I ain’t particularly strong. The Lord Almighty gives it to me when I need it, that’s all.” Ida Lewis was called “the bravest woman in America” by several periodicals of her day. She died in 1911, having suffered a stroke while still tending the light. In her honor the station was renamed the Ida Lewis Light. Her former residence has now become the home of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club. There is also a United States Coast Guard buoy tender that bears her name. Ida Lewis did more than polish the lenses of a light house. She herself became a beacon of light and life for many people who would have drowned if she had not rescued them.
Lights have always been an intricate part of celebrating Christmas. For some it’s a simple candle in the window. Others take the time to modestly outline their home with light to celebrate the Christmas season. And of course there is always that one obsessive individual who drains the power grid with more glitzy lights around his home than the average city uses. I can’t really imagine Christmas without a celebration of light. And I kind of think that’s the way God intended it to be. The only decoration, which I’m sure existed during that first Christmas celebration, was a light our Lord hung in the sky. It signified something special had just happened. The prophesized Messiah had come. His arrival was heralded by a star which guided wise men to his location. After arriving in Jerusalem they started asking everyone, “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him.” The King had arrived and their response was to bow in worship before him. The light was more than just a beacon that guided them as they journeyed. It meant salvation was available. It meant there was hope. It meant God had not forgotten or abandoned his promise to send a deliverer.
Like Ida from the story above, “we ain’t all that strong,” but through the gift of Jesus, God has provided what we need the most. On that first Christmas day what we needed most was to be rescued. We needed a light that would show us the way to safety. We needed a life saver who would have the power to calm the high waves and speak peace into our lives. We needed someone to come and pull us out of the deep waters and bring us safely home. We needed a light to shine in the darkness so all hope would not be lost. What we needed most was a Savior and a Rescuer for our souls. God created a star and announced, “He’s here.” Jesus, the Light and the Glory of heaven had arrived to save those drowning in sin. The light that brings salvation broke into the arena of human history to rescue us. Our Savior had been born. The angels sang. The shepherds ran. The wise men journeyed. And the world still celebrates. Receive him as your Lord and Savior today and He will deliver you safe from harm. “Joy to the World. The Lord has come! Let earth receive her King!” Amazing.
Live the Victorious Life,
PT
posted by Larry | 3:25 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home