This is the Point Iroquois Light. Built in 1870, it stands 65 ft. tall and is located in the upper peninsula of the state of Michigan overlooking Lake Superior. It was deactivated in 1962 after safely guiding ships between the open waters of Whitefish Bay and the St. Mary’s River for 93 years. This non-operational tower is currently maintained by the United States Forest Service.
Due to advances in lighting technology and navigational systems, very few lighthouses require the constant care of the once indispensable lighthouse keeper. However, in order to remain standing and accessible, most of these historical icons require some degree of maintenance. The U.S. Forest Service recently published an ad soliciting volunteer lighthouse caretakers for the Point Iroquois Light. Applicants must be willing to reside in the lighthouse and commit to one year of service. If I were a wealthy or retired bachelor I would most definitely be interested in the job. Are you? If you are, here is the link https://www.volunteer.gov/results.cfm?ID=15375.
According to the dictionary, a volunteer is a person who performs a service willingly and without pay. To volunteer is to offer oneself for some service or undertaking without expecting any form of compensation (payment). Jesus voluntarily gave up his life in order to grant us eternal life with Him in heaven. He willfully performed the greatest act of love imaginable. He offered himself as a payment to set us free from the penalty of sin (eternal damnation) and bring us back into a right relationship with God.
We are God’s lighthouses and Jesus is our volunteer caretaker. Not only did He willingly lay down his life for us, but He continues to care for us by providing us with sustenance, protection, people who love us, and more importantly, access to His very throne of grace through prayer. Unlike the volunteers of the Point Iroquois Light, Jesus has promised to be with us always. His commitment is not just for a year but for all eternity! And while our outer body wastes away, he takes care of our inner being by renewing our faith through the power of His word and devotions like this one.
I may not be able to volunteer as a Point Iroquois Lighthouse caretaker, but I sure am grateful to have Jesus as the volunteer caretaker of my lighthouse! Are you?
Prayer: Thank you Jesus, for willingly and willfully paying for my sins. Thank you for your promise to never leave me or forsake me. And thank you for faithfully taking care of all my needs. May my life reflect the gratitude for having you as the caretaker of my soul. Help me to care for others as you care for me. In your precious name I pray, amen.
Lighthouse Devotions 
I see the image of a caretaker that ‘prunes’ and gets rid of what is dead or dying. Jesus so lovingly does that all the time. Sometimes we don’t even see the neglect we ourselves do, but Jesus does. I am so grateful for how He lovingly does the ‘pruning’ that needs to be done to my heart! So well written, too short! Love you, your wife, Mari.
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Great thoughts! Jesus surely is our caretaker. It’s sort of hard to realize that he loves us and cares for us without our ability to return the favor. He doesn’t need us for anything, there’s nothing we can give him that will improve his existence. He simply loves. What a cool God!
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Thank you John. You are right, He does not need us, but how reassuring and encouraging it is to know that He wants us. His unconditional love and his acceptance of us through grace not works is what sets Him apart from all other gods. Blessings dear brother!
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