Why the Lantern?

The Vickade icon is a lantern, and the game's saying is "Let your lantern shine." Here is the thinking behind it.

Vickade is set at Camp Lantern Isle, a summer camp on an island. At camp a lantern is what you light at dusk: it lets people gather, find their way, and feel at home. The game opens that way. A robot named Hum carries a lantern across the water to the island and it lights.

The lantern also shapes how the game grows with you. Your light starts as a Spark and grows through Candle, Lamp, Lantern and Beacon to Lighthouse as you play, learn and help other people. It is only a game: it unlocks looks and celebrations, never power, and it does not go out. On the island, a Lantern Lookout stands at the top with a big lantern burning, and lighthouses stand on the coast to guide travelers in.

The deeper reason is Scripture. Jesus told His followers, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

That light is not our own. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). A lantern carries a flame it did not make. The light in the game is only part of the game. It cannot earn anything with God, and neither can our best deeds. Where the real light comes from is the Gospel.

What is the Gospel?

The Gospel is the good news of what God has done in Jesus Christ to save sinners.

God is holy, and we are not. God created us to have a relationship with Him, to know, love and honor Him (Genesis 1:27; John 17:3). But "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), and our sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2). Sin is not just mistakes; it is rebellion against our Creator, and its wages are death (Romans 6:23). No amount of good works can erase it (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Scripture describes this as darkness, and says the light is found in Christ, the Word who became flesh: "In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:4-5).

Christ died and rose again. Jesus, fully God and fully man, lived the sinless life we could not live. On the cross He bore God's judgment against sin in the place of sinners (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18). He was buried and was raised on the third day, proving His sacrifice was accepted and His victory over death is real (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 4:25).

Repent and believe. Salvation is a free gift received by grace through faith, not earned. Saving faith is more than agreeing with facts: it turns from sin and trusts Jesus as both Savior and Lord. Jesus said, "Repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).

Paul puts it this way: "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6).

A changed life. God gives new life to all who come to Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Real faith shows itself in following Jesus, not perfectly, but truly (James 2:17; John 10:27).

Carrying the light

That is the lantern in Vickade. The game cannot make anyone shine, and it does not try to. The light belongs to those who follow Jesus, and it shows in ordinary things, even in how we play: fairly, kindly, helping each other. Those are the kind of good deeds Jesus says lead others to glorify the Father (Matthew 5:16). And Scripture guides the way: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105).

Let your lantern shine.

What next? Read the Gospel of John, talk to a pastor or Christian friend, and find a church that teaches the Bible faithfully.

Skip to the Gospel

Look at the Vickade icon. It is a lantern. Here is why.

Vickade is set at Camp Lantern Isle. At camp, a lantern is what you light when it gets dark. It helps everyone find the way, and it feels good to gather around.

When you open the game, a robot named Hum carries a lantern across the water to the island, and it lights up. That is how the game begins.

Our saying is "Let your lantern shine." In the game, your light starts as a tiny Spark. As you play, help others and learn, it grows: Spark, Candle, Lamp, Lantern, Beacon, Lighthouse. Up at the top of the island there is even a Lantern Lookout, with a big lantern shining on top.

But here is the real reason for the lantern. Jesus told the people who follow Him, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

Notice where the light comes from. Jesus also said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). A lantern does not make its own light. It carries a light that is given to it.

The light you earn in the game is just for fun. It can't take away sin or make you right with God. Only Jesus can do that. That is the Gospel.

What is the Gospel?

"Gospel" means good news. It is the most important news in the Bible.

God made us and loves us. God made everything, and He made you to know Him and love Him. He is perfectly good, and He loves you (John 3:16).

We have all sinned. Sin is going our own way instead of God's way: lying, being unkind, wanting to be the boss of our own life. Everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23). Sin separates us from God, who is holy, and we can't fix that by being good enough. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

A lantern matters most when it is dark, and sin is like the dark. But the Bible says, "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5). That Light is Jesus. Here is how He came.

Jesus came to rescue us. God the Son became a man, Jesus. He never sinned, not once. He died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins (1 Peter 3:18). He was buried, and on the third day God raised Him from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Jesus is alive!

How do we receive this gift? We can't earn it. It is a gift from God, by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). God calls us to turn away from our sin (that is called repentance) and to trust Jesus as our Savior and follow Him as our Lord (Mark 1:15). The Bible says, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).

When God lights a life, it shows. The Bible says, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).

A new life. When God saves someone, He makes them new. They begin to love Jesus and want to obey Him (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Carrying the light

That is why Vickade has a lantern. Jesus gives His light to everyone who follows Him, and then it shows in how they live. Playing fair, helping a teammate, telling the truth and saying "Good game!" to the other team are ways to let it shine. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). The Bible shows us the way, like a lantern on a dark trail.

Let your lantern shine.

Have questions? Talk with your mom or dad, a pastor, or a Christian grown-up you trust.