Category Archives: Discipleship

A couple of years back, my family and I took a trip to St. Augustine, Florida to visit  my in-laws who were assigned as Salvation Army corps officers in that city. While we were there on the visit, we spent a considerable amount of time sight seeing – something I have always loved to do.  On one particular morning, we decided to take a trip to the St. Augustine Lighthouse and State Park.  The tour and museum were excellent but the thing I was looking forward to the most was seeing the view offered from the maintenance and lookout walkway that surrounded the top of the lighthouse.

From the moment we walked into the lighthouse building, the large cast iron spiral stairway truly grabs one’s attention.  As is evident from the picture, when you first begin the journey, it seems that the spiral stairway goes up forever.  As we were walking up the stairway I was surprised when we would reach the landings and would hear others bemoan how far they still had to go and how steep the stairs were.  There were some that even decided to turn around halfway and forego reaching the top after they realized how far above the ground they actually were. There were others, like us, that kept our focus and knew what awaited us once we climbed that final stair.  I know that I had a sense of great anticipation of the view we would be rewarded with once we finally reached our destination.  As a Christian, I have learned that in every experience in life there is a profound and simple spiritual lesson and this experience is no different.

There is only one way to reach the top of the lighthouse.  There are no shortcuts, no elevators, or an alternative staircase for those who want to reach the top.  As Christians, we know that the only path that leads to Heaven has already been laid out by the Lord Jesus Christ; its not a new path or new plan for mankind, but one that even the psalmist David understood that God would reveal to those who seek His will for their life:  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Psalms 16:11). David understood if he diligently sought out the Lord he would find Him; God would direct his path.  He knew of the promise as recorded at the hand of Moses: But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul (Deuteronomy 4:29). Just as there are no alternatives to arrive at the top of the lighthouse, there are no shortcuts when it comes to salvation. Even the Lord Jesus Christ taught this very concept during his earthly ministry.  According to the gospels, Jesus told the multitude that listened to his teachings: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6), Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:13-14) and Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber (John 10:1).

Each step in that cast iron spiral staircase in that old lighthouse led to another step that was higher than the last.  Within the lighthouse, the stairs led to a flat landing which was then followed by another flight of stairs leading to another landing. This pattern repeated until the final landing, which allowed for access to the room where the beacon was located, then finally to the door leading to the outside walkway.  That reminds me of how our Christian journey is supposed to be – even the apostle Paul understood the concept when he told the young preacher Timotheus, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (II Timothy 4:7-8).

Just as everyone walking up those stairs faced challenges and obstacles, we will also face challenges and obstacles in our spiritual walk.  Each step in our Christian journey increases our faith, prepares us for new challenges, and will eventually lead us to our eternal destination – Heaven – where we will be rewarded for our journey.  Just as those that climbed those stairs desired to see the view from the lighthouse and that became their focus, we must also maintain our focus on what our eternal goal is – to hear those words, Well done, good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:23b) that Jesus said would be the praise of our heavenly Father as long as we are faithfully travelling the path he has placed before us.