April 12
The Greater Light
Ge 1:16 And God made two great lights;
the greater light to rule the day,…
Springtime brings a renewed love of sunshine. There
is little else as pleasant as taking a spring walk in warm sunshine. Perhaps it
is proof that winter is finally over and we can once again enjoy being outside
without bundling up in heavy coats and trudging through snow. One of our northern
states (Minnesota ?) says there is no such thing as bad weather, just
inadequate clothing. But I will take sweet sunny spring time over snow drifts
and howling winds anytime.
Our meditation for today is to think of the sun
and all the benefits we get from “the greater light” that God provides for us.
It does not require an advanced degree in astrophysics
to understand how beneficial the sun is. Obviously it provides light so we can
see during the daytime and heat to warm the earth. Plants need it for
photosynthesis, the ability to transform sunlight, water and carbon dioxide
into carbohydrates. This complex process is mastered by the simplest green weed
yet is beyond the capabilities of our greatest scientific minds.
In humans the absence of sun can cause Seasonal
Affective Disorder (SAD) commonly known as cabin fever. Just having sunshine on
our heads can alter our brain chemistry to reduce depression and give us a
sense of wellbeing. We also get vitamin D2 from the sun.
Our clocks, and calendars are all based on the
sun and the time it takes the earth to revolve around it.
Nearly every form of energy we use,
electricity, gasoline, hydroelectric, wind, muscle, horses, coal, and wood,
comes from the sun. For example hydroelectric energy comes from water flowing
down rivers, which come from rain which comes from the sun evaporating water
that form clouds and then rain. There are some exceptions such as geothermal
and nuclear, but nearly everything else comes from the sun.
We are dependent on the sun for the air we
breathe because plants give off oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis. We
need the sun for the food we eat because it requires sunlight to grow plants.
Without plants for feed we would have no animals to eat. We need the sun to heat our homes because gas,
oil, and coal were once plants and/or animals that relied on the sun. We need
the sun for our clothing that is made from cotton, linen and wool. Even
synthetic fabrics are made from chemicals that come from oil or coal.
Stop and think of the complexities in this world
and how so much is dependent on the sun. All these intertwined process that are
powered by the sun are too well designed to have happened by chance. The world
may grudgingly admit it was intelligent design but we know it was our heavenly
father that set it all in motion.
Ge 1:16 And God
made two great lights; the
greater light to rule the day, and the
lesser light
to rule the night: he made the stars also.
Matthew Henry has made some wonderful comments
on the sun. If you have not read Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentaries you are
missing a wonderful treat. He was an English preacher in the 1600’s and wrote
in that old style, but his comments on Bible verses is sometimes priceless and
worth wading through the old English way of writing. When speaking of the sun
and moon he says;
“They
must be for the distinction of times, of day and night, summer and winter,…”
Then he speaks of more practical things, such as the
sun providing light for walking,
Joh 11:9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve
hours in
the day? If any man walk in the day,
he stumbleth not, because he seeth
the
light of this world. 10 But if a man
walk in the night, he stumbleth,
because
there is no light in him.
and the light was given for working.
Joh 9:4 I must work the works of him
that sent me, while
it is day:
the night cometh,
when no man can work.
These lights do not shine for themselves but for
our advantage. Matthew Henry amazed at our gracious God continues “Lord, what is man, that he should thus be
regarded!”
Ps 8:3 ¶
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast
ordained;
4 What is
man, that thou art mindful of him?
and the
son of man, that thou visitest him?
Finally Matthew Henry closes with a powerful
admonition that we too often forget.
“How
ungrateful and inexcusable are we, if, when God has set up these lights for us
to work by, we sleep, or play, or trifle away the time of business, and neglect
the great work we were sent into the world about! The lights of heaven are made
to serve us, and they do it faithfully, and shine in their season, without
fail: but we are set as lights in this world to serve God; and do we in like
manner answer the end of our creation?
No, we do not, our light does not shine before God as his lights shine
before us.
We burn our Master's candles, but do not
mind our Master's work.”
Mt 5:14 Ye
are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick;
and it giveth light unto all that are
in the house. 16 Let your light so shine
before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is
in heaven.
