Moon Watching

Genesis 1:14 – 16  ¹⁴ And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, ¹⁵ and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. ¹⁶ God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night….”

Just a few nights ago I noticed that a full moon was forming in the sky.  I just stood there looking at it and was struck with a variety of thoughts and feelings.  Its beauty captured me and I was lost in studying and admiring its features – much like a young man would the facial features of a lovely damsel who he suddenly noticed across a crowded room.  It’s amazing how we can overlook beauty when we are so focused on the day to day busyness of life.  We just don’t see it or we look past it.

Then about two days later as I walked out of the gym after an early morning workout, the moon again captured my full attention.  It hung in dark sky, and seemingly blotted out all other lights.  It commanded the landscape, shining a glow upon everything …. almost as though it were blowing its breath and coating everything with its own unique frost.  As I walked to my car, I was overtaken by its majesty.  Its prominence in the sky overshadowed all other objects and drew my attention and thoughts upward.  I was reminded of God’s sovereignty and command over all of nature and the universe.  I was reminded again that God and God alone is worthy of our gaze, thoughts, heart affection, and life service.

And then I was on a plane from Atlanta to our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.  After waking from a slight doze I lifted the window cover and there it was again.  Like an eye, the moon’s gaze was upon me, whether I was asleep or awake.  The moon gave me the appearance of bodyguard looking out for me --- casting the light of a a giant flash light upon me.  It gives me a great sense of security, knowing that my God does not sleep.  He is constantly aware of me, my needs, and life situations and He is more than able to provide for me, because He cares so deeply.

When you look at the moon, what do you see?  Do you see it at all or do you overlook it or look past it?  Do you see it just as a chunk of rock?  Does the moon make you think deeper?  Does it bring to mind the God who created it and you? 

Take a look at the moon this week and let me know what you see.

Be a super hero in 2012

During November of last year I was in Prince George, British Columbia teaching a seminar on the life of Christ.   

On the flight there I watched the movie Green Lantern which is based upon a comic book hero of the same name.  Back in the day, Green Lantern was one of my favorite members of the Justice League of America.  He wasn’t as well known as Superman or Batman but was cool in my book because of his uniform and power ring.  He displayed great courage in facing exotic villains who would bring destruction upon our world and impose their sinister will upon helpless victims. 

But less we forget Green Lantern was like virtually all of the other superheroes.  They each had another identity --- a day job as a normal person just like you and I.  GL was really Hal Jordan, Superman was Clark Kent, and Batman was Bruce Wayne.

That made me think about who I am and who you are.  We are ordinary people, with ordinary jobs, in ordinary places, living ordinary lives.  None of us can leap tall buildings, own a secret cave with a Bat-mobile, or have a power lantern that gives us great control over the physical world as long as we have sufficient willpower and strength to wield it.

But God has given us a new identity – “Christian,” a cool uniform – “the righteousness of Christ,” empowered us with a power source unlike any others – “the Holy Spirit,” and given us a mission to complete.  That mission is far more compelling than to “stop exotic villains” --- it’s to take God’s message of salvation to a world that is lost in sin.  That message can save humanity from eternal destruction, transform man’s heart and character from evil to good, and restore mankind to a right relationship with its Creator. 

Hal Jordan was chosen, equipped, and empowered for a mission by the mythical Guardians of the Universe.  Similarly, God – the real and only Guardian of the Universe has done the same with us.  

Jesus said in John 15:16a “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last…” 

In the movie Green Lantern, Hal Jordan made a conscious willful decision to live according to his calling, and as a result he became a hero.  And likewise we can fulfill our calling and live heroically in 2012, by exercising our will to tell others about God’s story of salvation.