Good Morning!

Well, it’s happening. I’m rising earlier than the sun. I’ve already noticed it, but I didn’t want to admit it. Fall is coming. That’s not a bad thing, mind you, but I do have a twinge that summer passed me by. I suppose it has. Next summer will, too. That’s life. Certainly, this should give me pause to eliminate all the clutter in my life so that I may focus on the most important and very best that God has to offer me.

An interesting note: In the last sentence, I originally typed, “and very best life has to offer me.” That wasn’t right, although that is what we are used to saying. It’s as if there is some mysterious force we call “life.” But, isn’t that God? Yet, I had to correct myself to get this right. Isn’t it amazing to think how even our euphemisms are biased to mask the true identity of our Creator. Humans simply do not want to give credit where credit is due.

Actually, this is very interesting. Take the very best that life has to offer. This implies several “truths”. The first is that I have control over my outcome. Yes, that certainly is true. I can reduce the risk of cavities by regularly brushing my teeth. Yet it implies that we have overarching control over our entire lives. That isn’t true. If we really look at things, we are astounded by how little control we really do have. Even so, we fool ourselves into thinking we do. There’s a reason Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” is played at many funerals. Perhaps it’s not so much that we think we have control over events but rather desire to take credit for what does happen. Might we call this “pride”?

All this was demonstrated yesterday by most of the talk regarding the eclipse. While I did see some posts glorifying God, most did not even mention his name. Certainly, America had focused their eyes in the sky, but failed to praise God. I couldn’t help but be reminded of Romans:

Romans 1:18-23 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their ungodliness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

It’s a dark, dark world, folks, and I’m not talking about any eclipse. You and I want to plug our ears when we hear “My Way” yet the world keeps playing it at funerals. Even so, Jesus tells us we are the light of the world.

Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

So, let’s remove whatever is blocking our light and let it shine for the whole world to see!

Father, thank you for the eclipse and the opportunity to glorify your name! Make us bold! Amen.

Copyright © 2017 Scott Powers