Through the Storm  

Changed Perspective

Over the past few months, we have gradually made our journey ‘upwards’ through the metaphorical ‘lighthouse’. The final level of the lighthouse is the lamp room itself; the place where the fire burns.

Read Deuteronomy 28:13; Ephesians 1:19-23; 2:6-7.

Returning to my experiences in the Old Light on Lundy Island, there is no hiding the fact that the interior of the unlit lighthouse is very dark. So, when we become aware of the light from the lamp room beginning to stream downwards to eliminate the darkness, we embrace it wholeheartedly.

After the stone-cold chill of the lighthouse interior, the tantalising glimpse of warm bright sunlight compels us to keep climbing upwards. Ascending the final steps, suddenly, we find ourselves brought out into a spacious place that has a completely different atmosphere and a hugely different perspective.

In reality, we cannot walk on anything but a narrow gangway around the perimeter of the massive platform where the lamp would once have sat. Nevertheless it feels light, bright, airy and roomy. The 360° view is totally absorbing as it is not only possible to see the rocks and sea immediately below, but also beyond to the island’s extremes and right across to the coasts of South Wales, Cornwall, Devon and the Bristol Channel. The perspective has opened up; indeed it is transformative.
 

The wonderful truth is that from a new understanding of our covenant relationship through Jesus’ blood, we genuinely have the ability to live as overcomers ...

The lamp room at the very top of the lighthouse literally shakes with the buffeting from the strong winds. Sometimes the rain lashes so strongly on the panes it would not seem surprising if it broke right through!

The reality of life is that we all have to face storms from time to time. Indeed, sometimes they are so strong we feel almost overwhelmed day after day. Yet the wonderful truth is that from a new understanding of our covenant relationship through Jesus’ blood, we genuinely have the ability to live as overcomers - to be the head and not the tail.

Spiritually speaking, this echoes the journey we have taken over the past months together. Positionally in Christ we need no longer be slaves to fear or any other oppression or negative limitation imposed on us by thoughts placed in our mind by the enemy, by our own limited perspective or by inherited curses. Instead, by gaining a greater understanding of what it really means to be a covenant partner with God, we can, if we choose, consign these limitations to the past and live with an entirely different perspective.

In Ephesians 1:20-23 Paul teaches that when Jesus was raised from the dead, God raised Him up over every ruling power and placed EVERYTHING under His feet. He goes on in chapter 2 verse 6 to say that because we are ‘in Christ’, God has also raised us up and seated us in heavenly places with Him.
 

​Why would we allow our thinking to dwell on what the enemy puts into our mind?

That means that our storms and limitations are all positionally under Jesus’ feet! He is with us and entirely on our side. Therefore, why would we continue living in fear? Why would we allow our thinking to dwell on what the enemy puts into our mind – the lies he feeds us - and not on who the Bible says we are?

Ultimately, we have to choose to be set free from our limitations.

Additional reading: Psalm 31:7-8; Psalm 118:1-8; Romans 12:1-2.

Prayer Time

At the beginning of this journey, you were asked to identify your most prevalent storm at the time.

• How has your perspective on that storm changed?
• How have you changed?
• How has your perspective of God changed?

Spend time in worship and praise. Thank God for enlarging your perspective on who He is and enabling you to put your storms into context.