In 2015, commercial pilot Christina Kurowicki prepared to land her plane in San Francisco, but there was an issue. Bright lights flooded the cockpit, impairing her vision and making it hard to land the plane. As she quickly glanced out the window, she knew exactly where the lights were coming from: Levi’s Stadium. The home field of the 49ers sits right in the flight path of the airport runway. The glow from one stadium shined so brightly it impacted a pilot in an airplane thousands of feet in the air.

As athletes, we cannot play without light. Not a single sport plays in the dark. We rely on the sun, stadium lights, indoor lights, headlights or streetlights. Without light, we cannot perform our sport safely or to the best of our ability. Lights also help our fans know what is happening. Without light, they would not know who is winning, what the play is, or who is even who! Light is crucial to sports.

As Christians, our light is even more crucial. Our light is supposed to be just as bright as Levi’s Stadium. Unlike the danger from the stadium, our light acts as a beacon of hope and gives glory to God. Scripture says that God created a light that we see with our hearts: a light of hope, love and faith. When we become believers, this light is inside us!

When we read how Jesus lived, and we walk in that way, people will see our light. When we choose to love over hate, people see our light. When we encourage, serve, pray and do life with people, they see our light. God calls us to be like lighthouses on a hill, showing others the way toward His love, grace and goodness.