Eclipse of the Son

Eclipse of the Son

On Monday, August 21, 2017, many people in a narrow band across the United States of America witnessed a total eclipse of the sun. Amazingly, the light from the enormous star at the center of our solar system was completely blocked out by a small dark sphere approximately 1/400th its size. The perfect alignment brought about by orbital dynamics, and the relative size and distance between the three heavenly bodies involved in this celestial event, created the illusion that the moon was as big as the sun. For a few moments, it was night in the middle of the day. But regardless of how things appeared, the sun was still shining brightly.

God is like that. No matter how dark things may seem, no matter what sin has ensnared us, He is still there. His truth, power, love and mercy are always shining brightly.

• Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.
• John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Satan is a liar. He wants everyone to doubt God’s truth, power, love and mercy. Satan is a thief. If you are a follower of Jesus, he wants to steal the joy and peace you have as a child of God. If you have not surrendered to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, he wants to keep you in the dark.

When the sin of unbelief eclipses the light of God in a person's life, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the only answer!

• John 12:46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

Even when it seems the light of God is not shining in your life, He is there! Followers of Jesus walk in the light. Christians follow Jesus to a place where sin casts no shadow. The precious blood of Jesus paid the debt for all our sins. For Christians, regardless of how we feel or how things seem, there is no eclipse of the Son!

• 1 John 1:5-7 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

For those whose lives are darkened by sin, run to the light – run to Jesus. God longs to be in a reconciled relationship with you – this is only possible through Jesus!!!

• 1 Timothy 2:3-4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
• John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Every person sins (falls short of God’s standards and statutes). But for those who have made Jesus Lord of their lives, their sin debt has already been paid in full!

An eclipse of the sun is a

cool experience!

An eclipse of the Son is a

catastrophic existence!!

Prayer

Loving, gracious, merciful Father, I pray that the brightness of Your glory and the truth of Your Word will bring light to those in darkness. Please set the captives free. May the light of Your love melt the hearts of those who have rejected You. May the truth of Your Word enlighten those who have not heard. I pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Misplaced

Misplaced

Recently I misplaced a pair of scissors that normally resides on my desk. My mistake was discovered when I needed them, reached for them, but discovered they weren’t in their spot. From there, what started as a casual glance around my desktop, grew into a search of my entire office space. Still no scissors. Abandoning the simple task that required the scissors, broadening my search to other parts of the house, ignoring the other scissors I came across during the search (multiple pairs), I became fixated on finding them. I pushed aside other more important tasks and duties to satisfy my obsession with finding MY scissors.

Fortunately, my misplaced priorities were short-lived. I used another pair of scissors I had come across and took care of the task that initiated this entire incident. But I have to confess, over the next couple of weeks, the thought of the misplaced scissors was distracting and led to several follow up searches for them and a couple of discussions with others that may have ‘borrowed’ them.

• Mark 8:35-36 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

Jesus made clear that our natural tendencies will lead us in the wrong direction – away from Him. Whether it is self-preservation, the search for happiness, the desire for possessions, or any number of other distractions and misplaced priorities, what good are they if they don’t bring us closer to Him?

The way I responded to misplaced scissors is a simple but real example of how we often focus on the wrong things. In a very real sense, we become slaves to our passions and priorities – and often at a great price.

• Romans 6:20-21 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

If you have not surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, now is the time to turn and surrender all that you are to Him. He died to pay the debt for your sin and rose from the dead to set you free from whatever misplaced loyalties, distractions, fears or beliefs stand between you and eternal life in Heaven.

• Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, but have allowed commitments, distractions or misplaced priorities to draw your time and attention away from Him, fall to your knees and recommit your whole life to His love and purposes.

• Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Whoever you are, whatever your circumstances, look to Jesus for truth, love and peace. He is the only way to reconciliation with God and eternal life in Heaven.

• John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
• Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

By the way, about two weeks after realizing my scissors were misplaced, I found them right where I left them. Unlike my scissors, Jesus is not just sitting around waiting to be found. He loves you and is actively seeking a personal and everlasting relationship with you. Pray to Him for direction, strength and endurance.

Prayer

Holy Father in Heaven, may the truth and relevance of Your Word change hearts and change lives. Help us to make Jesus the Savior and Lord of our lives. Thank You for Your perfect plan and eternal love. I pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.