April 8, 2024

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, rather- expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord’s will is. ” (Ephesians 5.10-13; 15-17)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Are you one of the millions who will view the solar eclipse today that will stretch from Mexico’s Pacific coast west of Mexico City to the east coast of New Brunswick? In a path that is approximately 122 miles wide, the experience of a “total” solar eclipse will be possible in clear to partly cloudy skies as available. People from all over the world have come, as they did in 2017 for a path of eclipse mimicking in part the path of a recent Chinese “weather” ballon before being shot down off the east coast of South Carolina. And while it is a phenomenon worthy of our attention, I wonder if the fascination is the darkening of the sun (and never totally as the corona will be visible as a rowdy halo) or the simple fact that the sun cannot be overtaken? It would for me hold theological and thus spiritual significance as I have considered both the passages I mentioned yesterday from Isaiah and the gospel of John. However, for me these eclipses (both solar and lunar) are eclipsed themselves by the sun standing still as recorded in Joshua 10 and 2 Kings 20. Much attention was given to these references when NASA was planning the course of a deep space satellite and found their calculations did not match their reality. In further study, the computer information had to be adjusted an entire 24 hours where the sun stood still (and apparently the moon, too, according to some.) Those two references speak to a visible evidence of God being in control of the heavens and the earth in order to demonstrate to Israel’s enemies how serious their situation was.

For those who will position themselves physically in the path of the natural phenomenon created because God set the sun, moon, earth and all other astronomical objects in place and for those who will watch via some media presentation recording the event for our limited posterity, I would ask “What do we hope to see?” Much like, as was recorded in Matthew 11, Jesus asking the am-heretz, the gathered people of Israel, “What did you go to the desert to see? A reed blowing in the wind? A man dressed in fine linen? A prophet? Yes, and I tell you more than a prophet as it was said ‘Behold I will send My messenger before you to declare the way before You.” We know from Jesus’ own words as recorded in the John that Jesus was “the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14) So what are we looking for and hoping for in this time of curiosity? Some are sensing an eschatological or apocalyptic event? Some are waiting to see more of the sky than ever before during daylight hours? Some are simply wanting to be “in the moment.” All these things may happen. For followers of Jesus as the Christ, however, we are reminded of Jesus’ conversation with those who were seeking “signs of the Last Day.” He replied, “No sign shall be given except for the sign of Jonah.” He had already warned many that they were able to discern signs of the natural world such as the changing of the seasons, eclipses and the coming of storms but they could not comprehend the signs of the times. Will the same be said of us?

In the midst of all that will happen today, the eclipse will impact only millions of the 8 billion who are living on the face of planet earth. There will be wars and rumors of wars. There will be earthquakes, powerful storms and volcanic eruptions. There will be feast and famine, wisdom and ignorance, sowing and reaping, life and death. There is always the need for repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, witnesses, baptisms and the making of disciples in every nation. These things are the vital necessities which are present and threatened for extinction on a daily basis. Jesus alone is the light of the world which the whole world is impacted by. He far exceeds the light which we are and which we make in our own swath of days on earth. We are called to be in the midst of all of this and these. We are called to be wise and make the most of each moment to declare the truth of God’s love excellently presented in Jesus the Christ whose gospel is written on our hearts, mind and soul. The words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts are intended to be solely (soul-ly) acceptable to God. We are not to fill our days and our thoughts with the foolishness of the world which cannot satisfy and actually lead others to an eternal death from which there is escape. Imagine, if you will, that those who will end up in Hell for all eternity will be forever in the “Eclipse of the Son.” His glory will remain visible on the edges and remind them of what exists in perpetuity for those who claim Jesus as Lord. But, they will dwell in darkness and never be able to come into the light. In truth, they will ignore the glimmer of hope and focus on the depth of their darkness until they themselves are truly one with it and in it. Are there those for whom hope still exists? Be wise, mighty ones, heed the signs of the times as easily and obedient as you heed the signs in the heavens and bear witness to the God of all creation who has made a way for our salvation, has established the truth of redemption for all who will confess and believe and has given birth to a new life eternal in His Kingdom which can be ours forever and ever.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, before we were conceived in the womb, You had already formed us in Your love and by Your Spirit spoke us into being. Each one of us is blessed with the opportunity of doing right, being good and producing the fruit of the Spirit so that others may be fed the truth of that same love so that the two will become one. It is our soul’s sincere desire to embrace the oneness You have in mind that we would know that we are Your people and that You are our God. Lead us in that discovery of the truth and the manifestation of that love for us all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.