I saw a lighthouse in the middle of Tennessee.  There wasn’t a navigable waterway anywhere near it.  No vessel was in any danger of ever being dashed against hidden, underwater rocks, or slammed into a craggy coastline by a storm.  The lighthouse only showed its light to those who were already safe.  It wasn’t serving its purpose.  It was useless… nothing more than an elaborate decoration.

I saw believers in the middle of a community.  There were no non-believers anywhere near them.  No lost and helpless soul in danger of being dashed against hidden deceptions or cast into the eternal lake of fire that burns for all eternity.  The believers only showed their light to those who were already safe.  They were not serving their purpose.  So, I wondered, were they useless… nothing more than elaborate decorations? 

The Lord Jesus redeemed us for a purpose.  According to Ephesian 1, He redeemed us so that we might demonstrate the praise of His glorious grace.  In Matthew 28, Jesus told us that our purpose includes making disciples out of people who had never been disciples before.  We are to help them associate with other believers in the church, and we are to teach them how to obey everything Jesus taught us – including how to accomplish our purpose.  Jesus laid out our mission succinctly when He said, “You are the light of the world,” Matt. 5:14. 

So, I come back to my question.  Are we fulfilling our purpose if we stay in the middle of a community of believers where there are no non-believers anywhere near us?  No lost and helpless soul in danger of being ruined by hidden deceptions or cast into the eternal lake of fire that burns for all eternity.  Or are we really only elaborate, but useless decorations, showing our light only to those who are already safe?