On November 9, 1975, the legendary Edmund Fitzgerald, a 729-foot long freighter, set out on what would be its last voyage. On the evening of November 10, it encountered a massive storm packing 80 miles per hour winds and producing wave surges of up to 25 ft high. While struggling to stay on course, the winter tempest knocked out the ship’s radar. At the same time, a power outage disabled the nearest lighthouse. Some still believe that if the lighthouse had been operational the captain could have seen its light and steer the ship closer to the shore avoiding the mammoth wave that ultimately sank it, along with its entire 29-member crew, to the bottom of Lake Superior.

It’s sad enough to read about the countless shipwrecks that occurred before lighthouses were ever built, but it’s even more devastating to know that a tragedy like this one could have been avoided if a lighthouse had been functioning as expected. I can only imagine the desperation of the captain searching for a beam of hope in the midst of that turbulence and not being able to find one. I think of how frustrating it has been the few times we have experienced a blackout and I frantically ran to get a flashlight only to find out that its batteries are either dead or missing!

Now, more than ever, we need to be conscious that we are in the last days before the imminent return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are not only living in the days of 2 Timothy 3:1-4, but also of Isaiah 60:2. It is a time when the powers of spiritual principalities are overtaking the world and engulfing it like a global storm cloud. Therefore, it is also a time to stand firm in our faith and boldly keep the Gospel light blazing! There are many who are spiritually lost and desperately seeking a light to guide them. And while they may find some sense of direction in the temporary things of the world, they will never escape the crippling darkness of sin unless they come to the saving light of Jesus. The light that you and I possess. That is why we cannot allow our own personal storms to extinguish that light, especially in a time when the world needs it the most. The darker the world gets, the brighter we ought to shine. However, the only way we can accomplish that is by remaining plugged into the power of the Holy Spirit. So let us keep shining, even when darkness appears to surround us. For we do not know if, during that very same time, our light may be the one to save a soul from sinking into the deep waters of despair.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as the world continues to sink deeper and deeper into the darkness of sin, may my light continue to shine ever so brightly so that those who are lost may find their way to You. Remind me that no matter the magnitude of the storms that come my way my light must not be extinguished. For my light is the truth of your Gospel -the only hope for those navigating in darkness. Help me to keep shining especially when I am needed the most. 

SCRIPTURES
“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…” -2Timothy 3:1-4  (NASB)

“For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people” – Isaiah 60:2

” For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” – Ephesians 6:12

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 4:6

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:5

-All Scripture is quoted from the NIV except where specified.