On December 21 at 1:33AM thousands of Americans across the eastern time zone gazed their eyes outside their windows, peeked open their doors and surrendered their warmth to see an event that hasn't happened in over 400 years, and would not happen again for almost a century. I took a nap at 11, and told my best friend to wake me up around 1:30. I too was one of those Americans anxious to see the earth pass between the moon and the sun in what is called a Lunar Eclipse. I was excited just because I'm particularly interested in phenomenons that happen in space. I didn't want to miss this one, and considerably so since I had missed the meteor shower that happened earlier this year. Out of zeal for the Lord, and possibly boredom my friend asked, “Ok, this is cool...how does this relate to Christ.” So I stopped for a second, thought then quickly replied. My reply wasn't enough, and so began our journey...
We peered into the sky and saw the earth casting it's shadow onto the moon. Like a creeping thief in the night, the darkness took away from the full glory of the bright abounding moon. That light could not shine to it's full potential because of the darkness creeping in. Just as Christ isn't able to get the full glory in our lives when we stand in the way of His will being done. Many occasions we try to take things into our own hands, when the Lord is trying to do a marvelous work in us. When in pain, we say "stop!" when the Lord is trying to use it to perfect us. We run, we hide and take matters into our own hands. It's only when we try to take matters into our own hands, or even pretend as if it is our own good works that will enter us into heaven that we fall short, and tarnish what the Lord is trying to do (Romans 3:12). We must decrease so that the Lord in us may increase! (John 3:30). It's amazing because when we stand in the way of God's will in our lives we create darkness. When the earth was moving between the sun it created darkness shown in the form of the shadow on the moon. In fact, the very absence of light is darkness, just as the absence of love is sin. When we stand in the way of Christ, people cannot see His love. This is the very definition of modesty, that we decrease so that others may see His love, that others may see His glory, and not our own. And If we fail to acknowledge His love for us, we will not respond in love to Him, and we will not obey Him. Instead we're left in our own pride and selfishness doing our own thing, going our own way that inevitably leads to destruction. We must yield to the Lord, let Him have His way in our lives, because when ever we take control, we create darkness and like the moon, that darkness is cast on everyone who is in the midst of it. We're only casting shadow on the moon, tarnishing the witness of Christ in our life. If we don't yield to the Father, If we don't decrease so that Christ increases how can we be light in the world? If the salt loses it's flavor, how can it be made salty again? (Matthew 5:13). Why should we increase our self, or point others to our self? There is no light in us apart from Christ, (Isaiah 64:6) we are filthy, scarred, wretched beings aside from His grace (Romans 7:18). We're only inhibiting God's marvelous work if we stand in the way.
Something began to happen though as we watched intently, gawking at the dark moon. When we thought everything would be turned black something remarkable took place. The moon began to turn red. What a most beautiful red it was. The red shined through the dark shadow that the earth cast on the moon...just as Christ's blood shines through, and covers our sin. Yes! His love is a covering (1 Peter 4:8, 1 John 1:9). Everything started to look red as I gazed upon the sky. The clouds, the stars...they all appeared red reflecting the glory of the Son's death on the cross as payment for our sins. Yes, the whole sky was washed in His blood just as all mankind now has the opportunity to be washed in Christ's blood(Psalm 51:2). His blood, that reflection of red in the sky shrouded the night in front of my eyes. So even when we stand in the way, there is grace in that His blood shines through and covers us, it covers our darkness. It can cover any sin. We cast our sins on Christ on the cross just as the earth cast it's shadow on the moon. But instead of turning black, the moon turned red. JESUS BLED! His true glory was revealed on that cross. When we were dead in our trespasses, He died for us, He has redeemed us! (Titus 2:14). His love came in spite of our darkness (Romans 5:8). And for those of us who have accepted the Light of the world, Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, we do not have to abide in darkness, but in light (Isaiah 1:18)...just as the moon does not stay in darkness, but follows the natural course of it's orbit and moves into the light. ( John 12:46)
It all became apparently clear to us, as the Lord was revealing His salvation and restoration to mankind in the form of a Lunar Eclipse. Indeed the heavens declare His glory (Psalm 97:6, Psalm 19:1). The moon began to turn white, just like every other night, but then the darkness began to encroach in. By 3:17AM the whole moon had shown red for a period of time. After that, it began to turn white again as the shadow began to recede. While Jesus Christ was on earth He was the light of the world, perfect, blameless before men, the standard, the example in which man should follow. He shined while on earth but He knew He came to die. While on that cross, He bled, pouring out His blood for the remission of the sins of all mankind. His blood shed as a covering over our sin, our darkness. He died, and rose and ascended into heaven. The time we have now, is the time to choose Christ. We are in a time of grace. We have the freedom to choose Him now lest we perish in the eternal flames of hell. We can be cleansed by His blood, and made children of light (Ephesians 5:8). We can only do this when we step out of the way, die to our own will, cast down our pride and admit our sin. Only then will we be washed in His blood, and be made new. And just like the light was coming back, Christ is coming back! And when He comes, He'll be riding on a white horse in full glory with judgment in His hands for those who have not repented, just as the moon had returned whiter and brighter than I had ever seen it. It pierced through the edges of the darkened moon encompassing it all within an hour and a half.
If you have not already, surrender your life to Him now, while there is still time! Choose Christ today!
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.-Hebrews 1:3
Written by Tyrell Lee Samuels and Marie-Marthe Rousseau, given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit!
