A few years ago I, along with millions of others, experienced the “Great American Eclipse,” which occurred August 21, 2017. Oh, how time flies! Do you remember? It was awesome! Living in northeast Tennessee, our locale provided a 97% coverage of the moon passing across the path of the sun, marking a significant eclipse and quite a spectacle!
The roughly three hour event in the middle of the day came to its maximum at 2:37pm, where there was only a sliver of the sun remaining.
When the eclipse began at 1:08pm, it was still a blazing August day. But as the time passed and more of the moon eclipsed the sun, the bright, blasting hot day began to turn into a not-so-bright and noticeably cooler afternoon. That was cool – pun intended.
Interestingly, just a few hours drive away in different directions along the ‘path of totality,’ there was total darkness for a couple of minutes. Among the locations in our region that experienced totality included Nashville, TN, Clemson, SC, and Columbia, SC.
Columbia experienced the longest period of totality nationally, where people witnessed two minutes and thirty-seven second of complete darkness…during the daytime! It is at this remarkable and brief juncture during an eclipse when the sun goes dark, day turns to night, some celestial bodies appear, and animals are fooled into thinking it is nighttime. I heard cicada bugs, who typically make noise at night, even where I was.
One fascinating aspect of the eclipse was is that “close to totality” is not close enough. For where I witnessed the event, even at 97% coverage of the sun, the remaining sunlight was bright enough to light the day, just not quite so bright! Such is the power of the sun and the light it emanates!
In our current day of “Covid chaos” and other pandemonium around the world, spiritual darkness appears to be eclipsing the light of the SON. But take heart, brethren – the Light of the World, Jesus, has made us lights in this world. And though this spiritual darkness appears to be spreading, we know that the Light of God will ultimately prevail!
Jesus revealed Himself as Light and taught His followers to shine that spiritual light for His purposes and His glory!
In John 1:4-9, The Apostle John wrote much about the illuminating nature of Jesus, the Light, and light bearer John the Baptist, who bore witness to Him:
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
Yes, the light of the Lord shines in this dark world in great need of light. The word “comprehend” in the phrase “the darkness did not comprehend it” is perhaps better translated “overcome.” For the spiritual darkness propagated by the devil and his minions can not hold a candle to the light of God.
You see, Ephesians 6:12 states that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” In contrast 1 John 4:4 reads: “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
And just as John the Baptist came to “bear witness to the Light,” you and I are also called to do the same. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5: 8).
Jesus highlighted this kingdom principle during the Sermon on the Mount:
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).
Being a light for Christ demands we take the initiative to be proactive in sharing the Lord with others. And how do we do that?
Matthew 5:16 links shining the light with “good works.” And why? “That they may see.”
Demonstrating God’s love tangibly is a powerful testimony to those walking in darkness, but is only part of our witness. We’re also called to proclaim the light, that they may hear: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
As we shine the Light of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation (Philippians 2:14-15), may others be attracted to the SON by our transformed lives.
And as He shines in and through us, may His light eclipse any darkness hindering others from walking in the Light – to the end that many would be saved and glorify our Father in heaven!
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” – John 8:12
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