The Lighthouse at the Harbour

The Southern Cross is a constellation of stars used in navigation in the Southern
Hemisphere. It is an Australian emblem found on our national flag with many institutions
named after it. Stars are known to lead and guide from time in maritime transport. If for some
reason the sight of the stars is lost, the sailors will be confused and without direction. They
would rejoice as soon as they find the navigating stars again as it restore direction and hope.
Likewise, sea-weary men will always rejoice at the sight of a lighthouse. It is a symbol of
hope, showing they are approaching some harbour. Even when they are not sure of where
they are headed, the lighthouse would always bring hope of escape from the miseries and
dangers of the Oceans.
We also have the lighthouse of knowledge today. In less than 200 years, UNESCO reports,
literacy level soared from 12% of global population to 83% in 2015, with some developing
countries having with over 90% literacy rates! Universities are having all time enrolment
records even at doctorate degree levels, whilst discoveries are being made in every field and
all these have impacted our lives positively. Consequently, productivity has soared in the last
few decades and we live longer, wealthier and healthier. Knowledge is simply bursting at the
seams.
Strangely, the light our knowledge has brought seems unable to illuminate all of our lives.
There remain huge dark spots in humanity. We have not being able to address mental illness
causing record high rates of suicide which is the greatest cause of death amongst young
people in Australia. There are concerns our technology which is supposed to connect us is
further driving us apart.
Divorce and break-ups are at unprecedented levels without any signs it will abate, pointing to
the troubles we have in staying together. We are the generation with the highest proportion of
people who grew up without their fathers. Amusement is available on a whim and in almost
every form imaginable to make and keep mankind happy but there are more broken hearts
than ever before. We are definitely groping in our seeming daylight! Ours is a paradox of
more wealth fetching less happiness!
We see people with fame and money, trailblazers in their fields and idols to many, commit
suicide as they find no reason to keep living. It leaves you gobsmacked such people who
seem to have it all still have some deep vacuum unfilled.
There remains some sort of knowledge to shine on our dark areas. Religion as we have
come to see it as an institution has failed us. It is seen as an object of control, bigotry, division
and manipulation. It has bred hatred and the most atrocious acts have been done in its name.
However, Jesus who questioned the religious establishment of His own days, seeing their
moral failing, says “This is life eternal, that they might know You the only true God and Jesus
whom Thou have sent.”
The true knowledge of Christ by way of experience, not through some told or perverted
hearsay or twisted tales, brings the freedom, healing and light humanity needs today.