Emphasis Preaching Journal

Dwight Moody used to tell the story about the lighthouse keeper out on a lonely island somewhere, whose only supplies came by boat once each month. He always received more than enough oil to keep his huge light burning, so he would often share some of his supply with the poor natives on the island. A mother would plead that her child was sick and the house was cold. Or a father would beg for a little oil so his wife could cook a warm meal for the hungry family. Or a wanderer needed just a little to light his way home. But then one month the oil for the big light ran out the day before the supply ship arrived, and that night the rocky point was dark, a ship ran aground, and a hundred lives were lost. When the government investigator arrived the next day, the keeper told him of all the reasons he had for running out of oil. He had helped so many people, but the inspector's answer was harsh. "You were given a job to do, and you failed. Your one task was to keep the light burning, and you let it go out. You are responsible for one hundred lives." Does that make us stop and think about our responsibility for letting God's light shine and about people who are lost for all eternity because we had other things to do?

Look at the twenty-third verse of this text from St. John's account of the Easter story. "If you forgive the sins or any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." These words weren't spoken to any organized church. They weren't spoken to give anyone control over anyone else. They were just the reminder of a solemn responsibility. "If you don't tell people their sins are forgiven, who will?" "If you let the light go out, who will keep it burning?"