From Darkness to Light

Some may say it's a once-in-a-lifetime event, and I wanted to make sure we were there. Thus, we packed our bags and headed up to Maine so we could be counted in the number of people wearing the weird paper glasses, heads tilted up, waiting in anticipation of the wonder to take place in the sky. Many people anticipated, planned for, and traveled to see the eclipse, and don't get me wrong, it was a beautiful sight. But after the brief darkness, I was reminded of the verse.

"It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour. The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last." Luke 23:44-46

The Bible tells us that Jewish citizens and Roman soldiers also saw a great event in the sky on the day that Jesus hung on the cross. Unlike the solar eclipse we witnessed, which lasted for a few minutes, darkness covered the land for three HOURS. Imagine you are just going about your normal afternoon, and suddenly the brilliance of the sun is gone. I can imagine that some may have tried to figure out this mysterious phenomenon, while others simply continued with business as usual.

They did not know the cause of the darkness.

They did not know the incredible sacrifice that was happening before their eyes.

They did not know that the person whom they mocked, beat, and nailed to a tree was actually offering himself up as sacrifice for the sins of all mankind.

As I think about the short eclipse we witnessed, and how cool it was to be in a crowd of people cheering in awe in perfect union. May we never overlook the sovereign God who created the heavenly objects and holds them all in place. May we never forget that day draped in darkness for three hours and the sacrifice made on that cross. May we never take lightly that we do not deserve his sacrifice, yet Jesus Christ suffered and died on earth for us to have eternity with the Father.

So, all in all, the eclipse was truly a beautiful sight to see, but also humbling to know that the God who orchestrates it all... cares for us, knows us deeply, loves us truly, and has prepared a way for us to be with Him forever.