Many of you may have the impression that there is only one person in this world that I love. Not so my precious friends. Have you ever considered why I love her?
What is the single most beautiful thing about her that I love?
I love her because she loves you.
That is the reason why I have always been so drawn to her. It has always been my desire to be taught by her how to love those that she loves, and that is you.
Just because God uses me to preach fire and wrath does not mean that my head is made of adamant? God uses me to preach love and forgiveness, far more than brimstone. I love you my friends, and I have always wanted to love you more, but I did not know quite how to do that. Yet when I see the way that she loves you, I understand.
I once said to her that “I am ready to continue to suffer the loss of all my friends, if it means that your soul can be saved.” I said that not because I do not love all of you. I do love you, and I am suffering great heartbreak over you all! The reason why I said that, is that I need our beloved friend to teach me how to love all of you more than I ever could by myself. That was so very evident to me from the first day that I knew her. She has a special gift of tenderness in her heart towards everyone. Even when she is angry with someone (which she certainly has been with me), she cannot help but let a little bit of that tenderness slip through. It makes me smile, just thinking about it. Who else do you know that can cause your heart to feel so warm with a simple smile?
When I see the way that she loves those that I love, my heart is smitten! It is one of the most wonderful things that I have ever known. This is the way that God wants us to love each other. These are the most precious memories of my life, watching you, my beloved friends, being blessed by the grace of our dear friend.
I know that there are some of you that have said things about me that are not especially nice, and perhaps there are some of you that hate me. Unfortunately, the realization of those facts and evidences have caused me to slowly build up bitter and begrudging feelings in my heart these last couple of years. In a few cases, I have attached those feelings to specific individuals, and in other cases it is simply a general feeling. I repent! I have been away from our dear friend for so long, that I have forgotten how to love all of you the way that I once did.
I do not care if you have had unkind or evil thoughts against me. I love you anyways, and I believe with all my heart and soul that someday our dear friend will once again teach me how to love you with grace, tenderness, and genuine honor, my beloved friends.
I understand that his analogy is based on a profession that no longer exists, but the analogy itself is still very true:
How does the lighthouse keeper know that the lamp in his lighthouse is burning and sweeping over the waters? He knows because he can see the reflection of the light. This is what the lighthouse keeper is always aware of, but that is not what he looks for. If it is an exceptionally clear night, it is more difficult for him to see that reflection of light, and it makes him worry a bit more. Just because the waters are calm and the skies are clear, does not mean that a storm is not soon approaching.
The lighthouse keeper lives a lonely life. His whole world is to keep that lamp ablaze and sweeping the sea. How does a keeper manage? What is the one thing that a keeper longs for more than anything else? His greatest joy is to get an answer back from a ship at sea. That is what a keeper looks for day and night, as he toils in dedication and love to keep that lamp ablaze. An answer back!
Lord God, help me to endure in my love for the friends of my brightest friend, that they would be blessed of You. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!
Your comments and questions are welcome, even the critical ones. You can submit comments without specifying an email address (despite the fact that it indicates that an email is required). If you do, I ask that you use a fairly anonymous (benign) username. However, if there is something amiss with your anonymously submitted comment, I will not have any way of telling you what is wrong.
