We just experienced a wonder in the heavens. In a spectacular display, the Moon passed between the Sun and the Earth, casting a shadow on the Earth in the latest solar eclipse. Depending on where you live, you could see either a total or a partial eclipse. My daughter is fortunate enough to live in Dallas, Texas, and experienced darkness in the middle of the day. She said that it was surreal and a little crazy to see streetlights coming on in the afternoon. Seeing God’s power and authority on display in real time was so amazing. Humans cannot control the rotation and orbit of the Sun, Moon, and planets. Once again, God’s power and authority are displayed for all to see.
As I gazed up at this phenomenon (with my special glasses), I could see the Moon moving over the Sun and blocking some of the brilliant light. This eclipse reflected my life at times. Sometimes, the sin in my life covers over the brilliant light that Christ wants to shine through me as his ambassador.
The sin eclipsing the light may seem small, like worry, anxiety, fear, greed, lust, and self-centeredness. As children of God, these sins may partially block the light of Christ shining in our world. This blockage may not just affect the world around us; it could also distract us to the point we can’t fully see or feel God’s light and power in our lives. If we do not recognize and confess this sin, it will continue its movement over the light and further dim the light available to guide us in our journey or not give the world around us the opportunity to know the giver of light and life, Jesus.
Our sin-filled life before accepting Christ as our Savior is like a total eclipse. The light of God is not in anyone who hasn’t accepted Christ, and they have no access to the light and are left in the dark, fumbling through the dark, hoping to find their way forward and looking for peace.
Since childhood, we have been told not to look directly at the Sun. If you are not adequately protecting your eyes, damage can occur that permanently damages cells in the retina. To see this magnificent display of the solar eclipse, you had to look at the Sun through special glasses. God is spirit, and because we can not see his face unless he reveals it to us, we look to the source of light and life through his son, Jesus. We can not stand and be in the presence of such glory that God has, but we do have access to his power, light, life, and glory through the gift of prayer. James 5:16b says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Ephesians 3: 14-19 and 1 John 5:14-15 are another great scripture references telling us of the power of God and our access to this power through prayer.
As I watched the eclipse, the Moon moved slowly over the Sun, blocking the sunlight shining on me. I am reminded that sin in my life may also be like this. Giving in to sin’s temptations may be a slow-moving process. So slow that I may not even realize it is happening at first. Over time, if I continue on the path of unrepentant sin, the sin takes over, and eventually, I am either totally or partially blocking the light of Christ in the world I live in.
There was a day long ago when complete darkness in the daytime took over, shutting out sunlight. Some people think there was an eclipse on the day Jesus was crucified. Although, most experts believe the cause of the darkness was not an eclipse. The total darkness of an eclipse only lasts a few minutes; on the day of crucifixion, the darkness lasted for three hours. In those hours of darkness, it might have seemed like the enemy was triumphant over God and darkness was blocking light. I am sure the people felt the oppression and despair of living without light. They may have been confused and wondered how to move forward. They were plunged into darkness because the sin of the world had taken the life of our Savior. When I have given into the dark side of my soul, I may also wonder how to move forward and find light to guide me in my everyday life. Praise God; three days later, the son of God rose in life forever, destroying the power of darkness over those who choose the light of the world as their Savior. Because Jesus rose from the dead, we have the light of the world, now in heaven, seated on his throne, interceding for his brothers and sisters. We can live in light through repentance and a life dedicated to following God and his ways. Just as the Moon moves and the Sun appears in full, we can always overcome our darkness through the power of God and let the light of Christ shine brightly once more.
As I watched the news coverage of the total eclipse, I was amazed that even though the Moon had entirely hidden the view of the Sun, a ring of light could still be seen. The Sun’s corona (meaning crown) becomes visible at this moment. Think about Jesus as our king. His glory shines even when the world’s darkness tries to overtake it. He suffered and died for us, paying the penalty for our sins. The darkness of our enemy cannot now or ever overtake his light. Even when it seems you are living in complete darkness, look up. The crown of Jesus is shining brightly, beckoning you to trust him for salvation, making a way for you to spend an eternity with God the Father, the giver of light.
What is overcoming the light in our lives? Are we living in peace and light or the presence of problems, sin, and turmoil? Also, I want to consider whether I am standing in the way of the light shining around me. Is my behavior and witness reflecting the light so I glorify the Son of God, or is my witness casting a shadow over the light, causing darkness to the world around me?
Darkness can’t overtake light completely. Even if one spot of light shines, our eyes will adjust, and we can see something. No matter how dark a day or moment may seem, it is always possible to see some light shining to guide us. I pray that the light overtakes the darkness in my life and I reflect God and all his glory. The next time we have a full moon, look at it in amazement. The Moon does not have its own light; it is the sunlight shining on it and bouncing off. I want to strive to be like the full Moon with the sunlight fully reflected and not like a crescent moon that is only partially lit. The Moon may be a dark sphere in space, but with the light of the Sun shining on it, it is breathtaking to behold. If you ever doubt that Jesus is the light you seek, look to the Word of God for confirmation. “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Shine brightly!
Peace in the Desert 