Better than a lighthouse …

This illustration is well known but it’s just too good not to share here:

In U.S. Navel Institute Proceedings, the magazine of the Naval Institute, Frank Koch illustrates the importance of obeying the Laws of the Lighthouse. Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.

Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, “Light, bearing on the starboard bow.”

“Is it steady or moving astern?” the captain called out.

The lookout replied, “Steady, Captain,” which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.

The captain then called to the signalman, “Signal that ship: ‘We are on a collision course, advise you change course twenty degrees.'”

Back came the signal, “Advisable for you to change course twenty degrees.”

The captain said, “Send: ‘I’m a captain, change course twenty degrees.'”

“I’m a seaman second-class,” came the reply. “You had better change course twenty degrees.”

By that time the captain was furious. He spat out, “Send: ‘I’m a battleship. Change course twenty degrees.'”

Back came the flashing light, “I’m a lighthouse.”

We changed course.

I love that illustration because it captures how we so often are determined to go our own way in life. Proverbs 14:12 puts it this way, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”

Sometimes God has to step out rather largely to get us to turn from those things in life that would utterly wreck us. And He can be quite bold in his efforts. Take, for example, the incredible story found in Numbers 22 (I will leave it up to you to read that Bible chapter). God tries to turn Balaam from doing the wrong thing. In this case, He sends a persistent angel who not only stirs up the stubbornness of Balaam’s donkey but gives the pitiful animal the ability to talk to Balaam in order to get the man to correct his path. Imagine having a donkey talk to you!

Just how much does it take for God to turn you in the way He wants you to go?

Does He have to put the piercing light of a sturdy lighthouse before you? Does He have to send an angel to block your way, or open the mouth of your pets?

Really, what does it take?

It should take nothing more than the Word of God. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

Are you on course with God? Or is there some subtle — or not so subtle — course corrections you need to make now, before your journey could wind up ending in disaster?

Look closely at Proverbs 16:9, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps” and Psalm 37:23, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Not only does God delight in the whole of our lives, but look closely at Jeremiah 29:11, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'”

God sometimes steps in our way to turn us in a direction that will provide a real future and genuine hope for our lives.

Fortunately, we’re not left to navigate this life alone. Instead, soak in these words from Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”

Scotty