Bigger and Brighter
Saturday night’s sky held a supermoon. This special moon happens once a year when a full moon occurs at the point when it’s closest to the Earth. From our perspective the moon appears bigger and brighter than usual. I stepped outside around midnight to catch a glimpse. Sure enough, the dark night glowed different. Through the parting shallow clouds a bright moon illuminated the black sky. These pictures I found online are similar to what I saw.
I appreciate unusual occurrences such as this. They’re reminders that the celestial world our God created is active. In orbit. And in relationship with us. And I couldn’t help but dwell upon an obvious analogy to this annual phenomenon.
The moon is the lesser of the lights. In fact, it doesn’t produce it’s own light. It merely reflects the light from the Sun. This is witnessed by the fact that from Earth we are only able to see the part of the moon that is lit by the sun. We cannot see the non-illuminated portion.
This amazing, and surely intentional, celestial design by our Creator speaks great truths into the relationship between Jesus and the church.
We are unable to produce our own source of light. Rather, the light we reflect is that of Jesus, the greater light among the world. We have the opportunity to illuminate the darkness of the Earth. But the only light the world will see from us are the parts of our life we let Jesus illuminate. Let us not shine in this world as mere crescents, rather full exposure of who Jesus is.
Church, the reality of the supermoon is really beautiful.
As lesser lights, when we distance ourselves from this world, the smaller we will look as a community. The duller our faith will appear. But when we let Jesus shine on our whole person, and when we are the closest to the world we can be, we will appear bigger and brighter on this Earth. We will expose and reflect more of Jesus.
Be present in the world around you. Welcome the unbelieving . Go to the dark places with the fearful. Ask why with the doubting. Intercede for the young in faith. Pray for the hurting.
And in your active faith, be reflectors of grace. And let our love illuminate the dark, so everyone will see their Source of Light.