The Glory of the Moon

                                                         The Glory of the Moon

        Did you see the full moon last night?! (And tonight.)  After so much cloudy and rainy weather here, it was so glorious to have a clear night sky with such a beautiful full moon. I took a few pictures from my doorstep, but the photos don’t capture the reality. I remember so many lovely full moon nights with Minnie on Monterey Bay and Carmel Beach and earlier in Long Beach, California. It is absolutely breath-taking to see a full moon shining over the ocean or a lake.

        The moon is glorious and it reflects the glory of the sun! What a beautiful picture of how our lives are supposed to reflect the beauty and glory of God.

        In the Psalms the moon is called "the faithful witness in the sky." 89:37 Think of the implications of that statement and also the absolute consistency and faithfulness of the lunar cycle each month. We must not take it for granted, but as a gift from God who created it. Think of a clear night sky with so many stars along with the moon. God created all of them and named them all and put them in orbit where He continues to hold all things together by the Word of His power.

        There is so much instability and uncertainty in our culture and in the period of history in which, by God’s grace, we are living. What a contrast to see how God keeps the sun, the moon and the stars and planets and the earth in orbit. They are anchored on nothing except God’s own Being. And that is sufficient because of who He is. We also have "an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast." And our anchor is Christ. We rest in Him and can always count on Him.   "And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted [or tested] beyond what you can bear." 1 Cor. 10:13 "If we are faithless, He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself." 2 Tim. 2:13 ESV

        And "the moon is used to lend a regular rhythm to earthly existence." It is the "lesser light" that God created to "rule over the night and to separate the light from the darkness." Gen. 1:16-18 God "made the moon to mark off the seasons." Psalm 104:19 "Because of its predictable regularity, the moon becomes an image of longevity and even eternity." "Established forever like the moon, an enduring witness in the skies." Psalm 89:37 NRSV (Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, p. 566) "Thus says the Lord,  who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night. . . ." Jer. 31:35 ESV

        The moon helps us to worship God by being impressed with His power and wisdom and beauty. And it gives us a perspective of our own finiteness, our limited creatureliness. "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" Psalm 8:3-4 NIV Surely that question points us to God’s grace. Why does He treat us so graciously? Because He loves us-- and that is reason enough.

        The beauty of the moon and the beauty of a life lived reflecting the glory of God as Christ shines out through us. "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him." 2 Cor. 2:14 NIV
                                                                                           –Pastor Burnside

Sunshine Today

        What did you think this morning when you woke up and saw that beautiful sunshine after "the worst snowstorm in history" or whatever it was?  ^-~)  The sunshine lighting up that beautiful white blanket of snow and beginning to thaw it is an encouraging thought, isn't it?  Did you thank the Creator of the snow and of the sun??    We are so-o-o dependent on the heat and light and movement of the sun.  Literally we would die without it. 

          Temperatures dropped to -12 last night!  And 3 days from now they're expected to reach 58!  What is making the difference? Obviously the sun!  Think of its impact on the snow (which, by the way, has plenty of nitrogen which will help the soil to prepare for spring.)  In wisdom has God made all of these things.    God is the source of all life and He uses the sun to sustain it by providing heat and light, both of which we appreciate more when they're taken from us. 

       

        The sun's daily movements show an order to the universe and provide a daily routine of life for all who live on this planet.  The sun is "a point of reference in a predictable universe."  It is a symbol of God's all-seeing eye, the judge and lawgiver, and His penetrating power.  It's a symbol of our absolute dependence upon God for life and breath and all things.

 

        Light is essential for photosynthesis and the growth of plants.  And how difficult it is when we are in the dark and cannot see.  "Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun."  Ecclesiastes 11:7

 

        And what great spiritual lessons God teaches us with the sun and its power and movements.  Just as we benefit so much from when the sun "looks" on us warmly in its daily circuit, so also is it important for God to look favorably on us.  He does that through Christ and our obedience and faith.  "Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."  Psalm 42:5  "The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;  the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."  Numbers 6:25-2

        "For with you is the fountain of life;  in your light do we see light." Psalm 36:9  Not only does the light of the sun shine brightly so that we can see it, it also enables us to see everything else by its light, as C.S. Lewis pointed out so many years ago.    "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." Psalm 119:130  We can see God in His Word and through His words we can understand all other necessary things in life.  Just as the sun provides heat and light to sustain life, God's  "divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. . . ." 2 Peter 1:3 NIV

 

        In heaven there will be no more need of the sun and the moon which God created for our good and His glory.  "And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light."  "And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb." Rev. 22:5; 21:23

 

        Thank God for giving us the sun and thank Him much more for giving us the far greater "Sun of righteousness," the Son of God Himself. He was predicted in Malachi 4:2 and glorified in Revelation 1:16-18  "His countenance was as the sun shines in its strength.  And when I saw Him, I fell at his feet as dead. And He laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:  I am He who lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

                                                                            --Pastor Burnside