Let Your Lantern Shine!

In the summer of 1862 a train was heading from Corinth to Jackson, Tennessee.  The train was overflowing with Union soldiers and every available seat or place to stand was occupied.  Getting the troops to their destination was of utmost importance so the conductor had the train going full steam ahead.

Just before reaching a railroad bridge the conductor spotted 2 women frantically waving lanterns on the track in front of him.  Bringing the train to a halt, the conductor sent several soldiers ahead to find out what was the matter.  It seems that some Rebel sympathizers had heard of the train’s route and of the Union soldiers it was carrying.  So the previous evening the sympathizers had set fire to the main timbers supporting the bridge.  Then they blew the fire out.  The hope was that the fire had sufficiently weakened the bridge so that when the weight of the train came on it, it would collapse, killing all the soldiers.

Fortunately a couple of women heard about the plot.  They decided to do what they could to help avoid the impending tragedy.  The 2 women walked 10 miles.  Through mud.  At midnight.  With no one else to protect them.  Each of them carried a lantern.  When they finally reached the train tracks they waited.  And waited.  And waited some more.  After several hours of waiting they were able to attract the attention of the conductor.  Disaster was averted.  The lives of hundreds of soldiers were spared.

In Matthew 7:13 Jesus said that “the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.”  The fact is that the vast majority of people are heading for Hell.  Sadly, most of them don’t even realize it.  They think they’re no worse than anyone else.  That God grades on a curve.  That sincerity counts.  That everyone (except the worst criminals) makes it to Heaven.  Our job is to warn them.  To be a watchman.  Our Job Description is found in Ezekiel 33:1-5:
    “And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, speak to the sons of your people and say to them, ‘If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows on the trumpet and warns the people, then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.  He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning; his blood will be on himself.  But had he taken warning, he would have delivered his life.”

Our job as a watchman is to wave our lanterns.  We need to attract the attention of the unsaved around us.  To let them know that danger is just ahead.  The bridge that they think is going to get them to Heaven will collapse under the weight of their sin.  They are lost.  If they don’t come to Jesus they will be lost forever.  They may not respond but that’s their decision.  Our responsibility is to warn.  Weep.  Pray.  Hope.

Lord, it is an awesome responsibility that You have given me to be a watchman for others.  Help me to be faithful to wave my lantern tirelessly.  Earnestly.  Prayerfully.  May many see and heed the warning.  And repent.  And be saved.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.