Stargazing for Truth
When I was a child growing up in a small town in backwater Louisiana, one of my favorite activities would be to go out at night into one of the two fields behind my parents’ home and lay down to watch the stars. Of course, this wasn’t an every-night activity as the fear would permeate my mind that one of the local mosquitoes might swoop down and carry me away to its secret hideaway along the creek that ran by the house. However, it was a time of quiet reflection for me to get away and just examine the night sky and wonder at the majesty of God’s creation.
Even today as an adult in Southwest Texas, I find myself occasionally watching the night sky in hopes that God would somehow speak to me as He did all those years ago. The sky is usually much clearer in Texas so those occasions are more frequent now, especially as I drive home from work in my SUV with the moon-roof open. My favorite time to go stargazing is during those time of discouragement, times when I may feel as insignificant to the universe as a small star wandering through the emptiness of space. However my stargazing has taught me some wonderful truths about God’s love for me and how significant I am to Him.
1. No matter how dark a clear night may be, you can always see the stars. “In Him [Jesus] was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1: 4,5) John wrote these words for a Jewish nation discouraged and living in fear of a Roman tyrant that had oppressed the nation for centuries. Darkness had overcome the heart of the land and John offered hope to those living without any. No matter how dark you life may seem – discouragement, depression, sin, etc. – Jesus is the light that shines so that we may see Him in the midst of the darkness.
2. As long as there are no clouds, you can see the stars clearly. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under a peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let you light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16) A clear, unobstructed view of the light of the stars will allow you to see the lights of the heavens. Clouds of doubt may obstruct your vision. Brighter city lights may outshine the stars at times. But even if you can’t see the stars, they still shine. In the same way, Jesus will always shine even when you can’t see Him. He is always there, even when we may not see Him or even try to hide Him behind our own selfishness.
3. When you follow the stars you can know where you are and where you are going. “…and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was.” (Matthew 2:9) For centuries in the Middle East, travelers could know where they were and figure out which direction to reach their destination by following a single star – the North Star. Walk into a darkened theatre and you will stumble your way around. You may get lucky if you find the stage. But put a single candle in the middle of the stage and you have will see your way more clearly. Such is the way of finding our Lord and Savior. We may stumble through this life and never find our stage, but when we look to Jesus and the example He left for us, we have an external reference point and we can find our way much easier.
4. When a star burns out, the material that made it shine is scattered abroad. “And keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His was, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn.” (1 Kings 2:3) Stars fall. Stars fade. Stars even burn out over time. But the material that made that star shine still remains scattered over the neighboring systems. As David lay dying, he summoned in his son Solomon and passed on his blessing to his son. The legacy that David left behind was a legacy of redemption. The man after God’s own heart fell into sin with another man’s wife and ultimately lost his kingdom, but God redeemed him through repentance and grace. This is the legacy that God calls us to leave for our own children and the legacy we are called to live every day - a legacy of repentance and grace.
So, the next time you are feeling discouraged and insignificant, look to the stars, or rather the Creator of the stars and remember His love for you. “For God who said ‘Light shall shine out of darkness’ is the One who has shone in our hearts the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ…. There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:6, John 1:9-13)
- Scripture passages excerpted from “Holy Bible : The New Open Bible – New American Standard Version” © 1990 Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN
Even today as an adult in Southwest Texas, I find myself occasionally watching the night sky in hopes that God would somehow speak to me as He did all those years ago. The sky is usually much clearer in Texas so those occasions are more frequent now, especially as I drive home from work in my SUV with the moon-roof open. My favorite time to go stargazing is during those time of discouragement, times when I may feel as insignificant to the universe as a small star wandering through the emptiness of space. However my stargazing has taught me some wonderful truths about God’s love for me and how significant I am to Him.
1. No matter how dark a clear night may be, you can always see the stars. “In Him [Jesus] was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1: 4,5) John wrote these words for a Jewish nation discouraged and living in fear of a Roman tyrant that had oppressed the nation for centuries. Darkness had overcome the heart of the land and John offered hope to those living without any. No matter how dark you life may seem – discouragement, depression, sin, etc. – Jesus is the light that shines so that we may see Him in the midst of the darkness.
2. As long as there are no clouds, you can see the stars clearly. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under a peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let you light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16) A clear, unobstructed view of the light of the stars will allow you to see the lights of the heavens. Clouds of doubt may obstruct your vision. Brighter city lights may outshine the stars at times. But even if you can’t see the stars, they still shine. In the same way, Jesus will always shine even when you can’t see Him. He is always there, even when we may not see Him or even try to hide Him behind our own selfishness.
3. When you follow the stars you can know where you are and where you are going. “…and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was.” (Matthew 2:9) For centuries in the Middle East, travelers could know where they were and figure out which direction to reach their destination by following a single star – the North Star. Walk into a darkened theatre and you will stumble your way around. You may get lucky if you find the stage. But put a single candle in the middle of the stage and you have will see your way more clearly. Such is the way of finding our Lord and Savior. We may stumble through this life and never find our stage, but when we look to Jesus and the example He left for us, we have an external reference point and we can find our way much easier.
4. When a star burns out, the material that made it shine is scattered abroad. “And keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His was, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn.” (1 Kings 2:3) Stars fall. Stars fade. Stars even burn out over time. But the material that made that star shine still remains scattered over the neighboring systems. As David lay dying, he summoned in his son Solomon and passed on his blessing to his son. The legacy that David left behind was a legacy of redemption. The man after God’s own heart fell into sin with another man’s wife and ultimately lost his kingdom, but God redeemed him through repentance and grace. This is the legacy that God calls us to leave for our own children and the legacy we are called to live every day - a legacy of repentance and grace.
So, the next time you are feeling discouraged and insignificant, look to the stars, or rather the Creator of the stars and remember His love for you. “For God who said ‘Light shall shine out of darkness’ is the One who has shone in our hearts the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ…. There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:6, John 1:9-13)
- Scripture passages excerpted from “Holy Bible : The New Open Bible – New American Standard Version” © 1990 Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN
posted by David Noland | 5:47 PM
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