Chicago Harbor Light

Psalm 24:1-4
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked advance against me
    to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.

One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.

                        

In Lake Michigan, off the shore of Navy Pier, stands the Chicago Harbor Light. The original purpose of the light was to assist ships in and around the Chicago River and the lake. Now the old place stands empty, without a mission. The building’s still beautiful with off white walls and red roofing. One might even call it inviting. Yet the sad, desolate building cries to be used. The good news is that the city of Chicago has plans for the lighthouse in the near future. I read that they want to create a museum that tells the history of the area.

I’ve felt like that lighthouse more times than I care to admit. Desolate, empty and wondering what I’m here for. But God, in his grace, filled me with his light and promised to stand by me and help me in all that I do. For my part, I must seek the Lord and ask for his help. Now I walk in confidence and know he has me in his hands. I don’t want to end up as a museum of the past, I need to live in the present and stay in step with God’s plan for me. Because, one of these days I want to dwell with him in his house in heaven.

How about it? What has Jesus planned for you?