Let the Lower Lights Be Burning

The songwriter / composer Philip P. Bliss ( ) –A music teacher and professional songwriter –Traveled with Dwight L. Moody (preacher) and led the singing for many years Wrote many hymns based on the illustrations he heard Moody use during his sermons

Understanding the illustration Based on the mid-1800’s harbor at Cleveland, Ohio –The harbor was where the Cuyahoga River empties into Lake Erie –Due to currents and underwater shoals there was only one safe channel to enter the harbor –In 1825 a lighthouse was built on the bluffs east of the harbor entrance

Understanding the illustration Captains complained they could not find the entrance at night with only one light So an additional, much smaller lighthouse was added on the west side of the entrance –There were no bluffs on this side of the river, so the light was built on the shore

D.L. Moody’s Illustration A few years ago, at the mouth of Cleveland harbor, there were two lights, one at each side of the bay, called the upper and lower lights; and to enter the harbor safely by night, vessels must sight both of the lights. These western lakes are sometimes more dangerous than the great ocean. One wild, stormy night, a steamer was trying to make her way into the harbor. The captain and pilot were anxiously watching for the lights. By and by the pilot was heard to say, "Do you see the lower light?" "No," was the reply: "I fear we have passed them." "Ah, there are the lights," said the pilot;" and they must be, from the bluff on which they stand, the upper lights. We have passed the lower lights, and have lost our chance of getting into the harbor."

D.L. Moody’s Illustration What was to be done? They looked back, and saw the dim outline of the lower lighthouse against the sky. the lights had gone out. "Can't you turn your head around?" "No; the night is too wild for that. She won’t answer to her helm." The storm was so fearful that they could do nothing. They tried again to make for the harbor, but they went crash against the rocks, and sank to the bottom. Very few escaped; the great majority found a watery grave. Why? Simply because the lower lights had gone out. Now with us the upper light is all right. Christ Himself is the upper light, and we are the lower lights, and the cry to us is, “Keep the lower lights burning!” That is what we have to do.

Stanza 1 “Brightly beams our Father's mercy From the lighthouse evermore; But to us He gives the keeping Of the lights along the shore.” God’s mercy shines like a light beckoning all to come to Him for salvation –Eph 2:4-8 – we are saved by God’s mercy –1 Jn 1:5-7 – God is light. And we must come to His light to be saved We act as “lights along the shore” –Mt 5:14-16

Stanza 2 “Dark the night of sin has settled, Loud the angry billows roar; Eager eyes are watching, longing, For the lights along the shore.” Sin is the darkness of a stormy night –Sin is darkness (1Jn 1:5-6; 1Ths 5:3-5; Eph 5:11- 15) –Eph 4:14 – Storm of false teaching –1 Tim 6:9 – Storm of temptation People wanting to find the way to salvation are looking for help –Phil 2:12-16 – guiding the lost to God’s salvation by our conduct and teaching

Stanza 3 “Trim your feeble lamp, my brother; Some poor seaman, tempest tossed, Trying now to make the harbor, In the darkness may be lost.” Trimming a lamp wick keeps it from smoking and from burning dimly –All the virgins trimmed the wicks prior to get a better light (Mt 25:1-13) The lost seaman is all those who are in sin –Rom 3:23; Jas 1:13-15 The harbor is salvation, which, without some light, they may miss finding (2 Cor 5:10-11)

Conclusion Chorus: “Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave! Some poor fainting, struggling seaman, You may rescue, you may save.” We have a duty to be examples in all we do –1 Tim 4:12 We must make disciples, baptize them and teach them to obey Jesus (Mt 28:19-20) –So that they can be saved