The Great Eclipse

The Great American Solar Eclipse – August 21, 2017

The first solar eclipse to cross the continental United States in 99 years happens today (August 21st, 2017) according to The Washington Post. Huffington Post calls this celestial phenomenon as the “great American eclipse” where from the Pacific to the Atlantic, various states can see how the moon will come in-between the sun and earth, blotting out the warmth and light of the sun, from the residents of the earth. Darkness will temporarily come over the earth as the moon will casting its shadow on it.

While the Bible records that the sun will be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, before the coming of our Savior, Lord and King, we must remember Jesus’ words that the day and hour of his coming is not known to anyone except God the Father (Matthew 24:29,30; 36). We must therefore keep watch for the return of Jesus (Matthew 29:42). End signs and prophecy is given to us in the Bible, not to predict the time of God’s return but to proselytize the Truth of his Gospel, so that everyone living in darkness may have the chance to believe and repent and be adopted into God’s family (John 1:12). End signs and prophecy is given to us so that we can build Biblical character, conforming more into Jesus’ image (Romans 8:29), rather than building a Biblical timeline.

Additionally, as I chatted with my wife (Sangeetha) and children (Reuben and Ittai) about the solar eclipse and pondered on it, there are a few other things that surfaced. The moon is a lot smaller (about 400 times according to scientists) than the sun; The darkness experienced by the residents of the earth is only temporary.

The moon was created as one of the two lights to rule the night i.e., in a timeframe when it is dark, it is set in place by the Creator to reflect the light of the sun to give light upon the earth but in a solar eclipse it comes in-between the sun and the earth and by virtue of its position, casts a shadow instead, blocking out the light of the sun from the earth. Like the moon, Lucifer (aka satan), was created as a morning star (Isaiah 14:12) to declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1) and to worship God alone and not seek the worship of self (Revelation 22:8-9). In fact, the very word Lucifer means light-bringing. But iniquity was found in his heart and he wanted to usurp God’s throne and elevate himself above God, and so was pushed out of heaven (Isaiah 14:12; Luke 10:18) and he fell on earth (Job 1:6-7). He is so much smaller than God in all spectrums. Yet he tries to position himself between the Son of God and the people of the earth, eclipsing the glorious truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, blinding the minds of many, to keep them in darkness (2 Corinthians 4:4). But the good news is that the darkness is temporary, because the fact is that the sun never stopped shining – it was only obstructed. In like manner, the love of God is constant, ever shining on all of his creation. The warmth and love of Jesus Christ never stops shinning. Satan cannot stop it for there is nothing, absolutely nothing, for I, this Paul, like Apostle Paul, am persuaded that nothing – neither death, nor life, nor angels (satan being one of them), nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature (including satan) shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Points to ponder:
Let us not remain in darkness, but by the renewing of your mind, let us believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be brought into the light that dispels all darkness. Let not our soul be eclipsed, for that is far greater than the great American eclipse! Accept the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the World, uneclipsable.

Matthew 24:29-30
²⁹ Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
³⁰ And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
…
³⁶ But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
…
⁴² Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Genesis 1:16-18 (KJV)
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.
¹⁷ And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
¹⁸ And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

2 Corinthians 4:4-6 (KJV)
⁴ In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
⁵ For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
⁶ For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:38-39 (KJV)
³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.