or, Winstanley’s Lighthouse
There are many ways in which Satan seeks to destroy souls, one of which is to induce people to put their confidence in an unworthy object. Disappointment and disaster must always follow upon this, no matter howsoever sincere the misplaced trust.
The mariner sees the light of the wreckers’ fire gleaming across the dark wave, and firmly believes it to be the harbour light, and for his misplaced trust he loses his ship and is robbed of his possessions. The captain follows the guidance of a deceptive chart, and his ship smashes upon the rocks. In like manner the sinner, who turns to any hope or trusts in any saviour but the God-provided One must eventually lose his soul.
It is my desire to press home upon you this solemn fact; and, in order to do this, I will recall the story of “Winstanley’s Lighthouse,” which will serve my purpose well.
Winstanley was, without doubt, a well-meaning man, and his desire to build a lighthouse on the Eddystone Rocks was most commendable, but his work was not trustworthy.
Such a lighthouse was certainly needed, for many a homeward-bound craft, with its gallant crew, had met destruction just in sight of home upon that terrible reef.
Now Winstanley firmly believed that he was able to build the desired lighthouse, and he set about the great work; but when he exhibited his model, those who understood the aggressive power of the sea warned him that his proposed wooden structure would never survive a storm. But he persisted in his designs, and at length accomplished his task, and declared, when it was finished, that he only desired to be in it in the fiercest storm that ever blew. He had it painted and decorated with various mottoes, one of which was “Pax in Bello,” meaning, I suppose, that it would be secure and peaceful in the midst of warring elements.
It was completed in the year 1696, and certainly stood the test for a time, but at length Winstanley’s desire for a great storm was gratified. He had gone out to the lighthouse towards the end of November, 1703, to superintend some repairs, when “The Great Storm” commenced, which lasted for days. When that storm had exhausted itself the people looked out across the water from the Plymouth Harbour, but no trace of Winstanley’s lighthouse could be seen. He and it together had been swept into the sea. His confidence was misplaced, and destruction was the result.
Now there is a storm of judgment coming which will test every man, woman, and child; your works will be put to the test, and your safety will altogether depend upon where your faith rests. If you are hoping for salvation because of anything that you have done or been, you will find that you have trusted an unworthy object—a house built upon the sand which cannot withstand the storm. You may be sincere in your belief in yourself; in spite of that you will be lost for ever. Winstanley had strong faith in his lighthouse, but that did not save his life in the storm. You may believe in your good works, that will not save you from hell. The fact is, you are a sinner, and you need a Saviour — One Who can be safely trusted. This saviour must not be one of your own devising, for however right your intentions may be, you would surely make mistakes in this matter.
Your Saviour must be the One Whom God has sent into the world, even the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the worthy object for your faith. You may safely trust in Him. He has weathered the fiercest of storms. When upon the Cross he passed through the storm of God’s righteous judgment against sin: He was there as the sinner’s Substitute.
“The tempest’s awful voice was heard;
O Christ, it broke on Thee;
Thy open bosom was my ward;
It bore the storm for me.
Thy form was scarred; Thy visage marred.
Now cloudless peace for me.”
Can you truthfully sing these words? Thank God, no storm can ever reach the one who has trusted in Jesus. They are sheltered for ever, for He is the one true and only Covert from the tempest. All refuges and foundations will be swept away when the fierce hurricane of righteous judgment blows, and the poor dupe who has trusted to these unworthy objects will be shelterless and truly undone in the midst of the pitiless blast.
Take warning, dear reader. Fly to Jesus. Put your trust in the One in whom millions have already trusted, and you shall be for ever safe.
But there is another solemn consideration in connection with this matter. It is this:— you are deceiving yourself, you are probably deceiving others, too.
I can well understand some ship bearing up the channel during the fierce storm which destroyed Winstanley’s lighthouse, looking out anxiously for the warning light, and believing that they were far from the dangerous rocks because they could not see it, until to their dismay they found themselves wrecked upon them. And what would be to blame for this? Why, Winstanley’s unworthy lighthouse. And what if, because you are trusting a false saviour, others, hoping that you are right, follow your guidance and share your destruction? Are you not blameworthy? Then, for your own sake, and the sake of others, fly to Jesus, and do it now. Then, for ever safe yourself, your light will shine brightly for the guidance of others.
Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded 
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