Devo 43
10/02/02
"In the Shadow of the Son"
In college astronomy, I learned an interesting thing about sunspots. It turns out that a sunspot, if you were to somehow isolate it from the rest of the sun, is actually quite bright. It only appears black because the rest of the sun is so much brighter.
I think that's how I am as a Christian sometimes; an isolated sunspot. Since I work forty hours a week for a Christian organization, there is very little in my daily routine that isn't Christ-oriented—at least until I get home. During the six or seven hours I spend at home every weekday I find it very hard to want to do anything 'religious'. I can't remember the last time I looked forward to reading my Bible, and sometimes I have trouble even praying for my friends or loved ones. I guess part of me feels I don't need that stuff, I do spend forty hours a week serving Christ and others through my job after all, can't I have some free time for myself? I can be so arrogant sometimes; like an isolated sunspot tempted to think he's really bright.
I've often wondered at the response characters in the Bible have to the presence of God. The Israelites at the base of Mt. Sinai shook with fear as the thunder and lightning of God's presence and voice flashed around them. Abraham fell down on his face and worshipped when God came to visit him. Isaiah when he saw the vision of the Most High cried out, "Woe is me!". How would I react if I turned around and saw Jesus standing at my shoulder? I rather doubt I'd ask for His autograph.
I can't think of a more terrifying encounter. Suddenly this isolated sunspot basking in his own glow is held up against the sun and can't help but see how utterly black he is. In the face of Holiness Himself, how can I appear as anything but a small black stain. Those who surround the throne of God cry out day and night "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD", and for very good reason. Even 'Holy' is not enough, it has to be repeated three times! Holy! Holy! Holy! What other word is there to describe Him?
Confronted with the Holiness of God, every person has two options:
"For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God. (John 3:20,21)"
It's a horrific moment when we stand before the Holiness of the Lord. Adam and Eve felt it as soon as they had eaten the fruit. When God came down to walk with them, the new couple did something they had never done before, they hid and they knew they were naked. It's the same when we stand before God, nothing is hidden. Some people can't bear the light and hide themselves forever, to their destruction. The wise will read on.
Read Romans 8 sometime. If you have any doubt at all of your standing with God, read this chapter. If you wonder how can a Holy God have anything to do with us, read it. God knows you yes, He knows your sin. But He has also set you aside for adoption into His family and ultimately 'glorification'. According to a quick word search I did, the word translated 'glorify' appears 53 times in the New Testament. As near as I can tell 52 of those times the word is used with God as the direct object. Only here at the climax of Romans 8 in verse 30 is this word used to describe the ultimate reward of those who love and seek God. We will be glorified! It's an amazing thought! The process may be painful, but look where it ends!
Here's one more thing I learned about sunspots: sunspots don't stay sunspots. In other words, that little dark speck on the sun won't stay that way forever. Before long it will be as bright as the sun. As Christians we need to believe that we will not stay forever black. It is painful to stand up in the uncompromising light of the Son of God. But if it hurts, that's only because the death of sin is being burned away. We are being made pure.
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philipians 1:21