Let’s hear it for the solar eclipse! As I sat and watched the event, I couldn’t help but clap my hands together and exclaim, “Well done, Your Majesty, well done!” I don’t know which I enjoyed more, the eclipse or the knowledge that across the country, untold scores of folks were relaxing together and looking up at the splendor of God’s creation. I personally had a wonderful day relaxing with my mom. What a blessing!
I have been thinking of a story my pastor told of a little boy who saw a full moon and asked his grandpa if the moon was big and round. The grandpa told him it was indeed big and round. When the moon was only half full, the little boy asked the grandpa what had happened to it, and he was assured that it was still there, big and round as ever. Later in the month, when the moon was no longer visible, the little boy was afraid the moon was gone. But the wise old man assured him that, like God’s love, it doesn’t mean it’s gone anywhere just because you can’t see it.
It got surprisingly dark during the eclipse. Despite being able to see a ring of light around the moon, it was so dark that I could clearly see both Jupiter and Venus. Wow! What a brilliant cosmic display!
So many scriptures came to mind: Psalm 19 in The Passion Translation says, “God’s splendor is a tale that is told, written in the stars. Space itself speaks His story through the marvels of the heavens.” And Psalm 139, “Wherever I go, your hand will guide me; your strength will empower me. It’s impossible to disappear from you or to ask the darkness to hide me, for your presence is everywhere, bringing light into my night.”
But arguably the most powerful of these is John 1:1-5, “In the beginning, the Word [Jesus] already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”
The eclipse reminded me that God’s light and love can always be found, even if sometimes it must be seen by faith. Looking back on my life, I’ve had numerous times where it “felt” like I was in absolute darkness. But I know now that God was always there. He was holding me together (Colossians 1:16-17), even when everything seemed to fall apart. And all the years I spent trying to run from Him and push Him away, He never left or rejected me (Hebrews 13:5).
No matter how hard I worked on wrecking my life, His steadfast love never stopped; His mercies never ended, and they never will, not for me or any of us. Every morning, we are all met with a fresh wave of mercy and grace, and His faithfulness is great (Lamentations 3:22-23)!
Remember, no matter how dark things are for you, God’s love is always there. One thing scripture teaches, and I have learned from experience, is that there are certain things darkness can never do. It can’t comprehend or overcome the light of God’s love as shown (shone) in Jesus Christ. From the first words uttered in scripture, “Let there be light,” to now and always. God’s light permeates our world. His light has won, will win, and is winning. Wherever love is, there is light.
One response
.”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 NIV