The Lighthouse

James 1 17-18,21-22;5:20

I heard a story the other day that inspired me. It went something like this: The captain of a large ship noticed a light in his path, a possible danger. He signaled the one in his path and required him to make way. The conversation went like this.
"Make way. I am a large ship and you are in our path."
"No, you make way."
"I am the captain of this ship, I order you make way now!"
"I am a Lighthouse, correct your heading immediately."

Just as the captain of a ship obeys the lighthouse, we need to obey God. Like the lighthouse, God's word signals us, protects us, warns us, and directs us through life. Though the captain of his ship has freedom to control his ship, the lighthouse guides him safely so he obeys. Though in Christ we have the freedom to choose, obedience to Him, our lighthouse, leads us safely.

There is no such thing as total freedom. Nor would we want total freedom. Birds depend on air to navigate, fish depend on water to breathe, we depend on God to live. True freedom means we are free to do as we ought not as we please. Whether we believe it or not, we are just as dependant on God as the ship is dependant on the lighthouse.