April 12 The Greater Light

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.”

 

Meditate on that for a while!

 

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.