I don’t know about you but I have seen several eclipses over the years. I remember when a partial solar eclipse happened when I was a kid but this is the first full eclipse that I have seen. Now I shouldn’t say that I fully saw it except on NASA because in the area I live in it did not show as a full eclipse.
In order to see the eclipse, you had to have special glasses, which I did not have. I was at work when it happened and we went out for maybe five minutes to take a look. There was no way that you could really see it without something. One of my co-workers had a welding helmet. It is not the ideal but we could take a quick glance, just to see it. The sun is so bright you could not see it otherwise.
It was a very interesting feeling to have it start to get dark. It was kind of like it was clouding over but there were no clouds. It felt like it should be heading toward evening rather than being 10:30 am. It was definitely an experience of a lifetime.
There are several different lessons that can be learned through this experience and I have been debating on which one to share. And maybe I will share both. I share what the Lord brings to my mind about any given situation. I don’t always know what I am going to write as I start but the Lord always gives me things as I write.
The first thought that was coming to my mind was relating this eclipse to the things that are happening in our world today. There are so many evils. There are so many things that this person is doing or saying and that person is doing or saying. It is so easy to get caught up in the things that are happening that it starts to become the trend of our conversations and what we dwell upon. It starts to blind us to the real things that we should be dwelling upon and talking about. We can have a tendency to want to read things into every single thing that takes place or what people do or say and try to fit it somehow into prophecy. And as time passes and things do not happen the way we thought we may get discouraged. We may be strong enough to handle it but more importantly who have we discouraged and caused to lose sight of God. Just like watching the eclipse for very long can cause you to go blind, dwelling upon the things that are happening in this world can take us off the correct focus and cause our spiritual eyes to go blind to what really matters to God.
Here is the most important thing to focus on, “…To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life.” “…He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” …To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” ” …He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out to the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His Angels.” Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 3:5.
As we are overcoming and our lives are reflecting Christ the next most important thing is to be sharing the love of Jesus with our families first and then to others. As we are reflecting Christ in every way they will be open to hearing what Christ has done for us. This is a part of overcoming. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11.
Overcoming leads me to the other aspect that came to my mind as I reflected upon the eclipse. The Lord is coming soon. And we need to focus on being ready. There is only one thing that will save us when Christ comes in the clouds. The brightness of His coming will be so intense we will immediately perish. There is only one way that we will be able to look upon Him and not perish and that is to be an overcomer. We have to have “protective” glasses on. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” Ephesians 6:10-18.
We need to have on the whole armour of God or we will not be able to stand on the day of the Lord’s appearing. We need to keep our focus in the right area. The devil doesn’t care how he distracts us as long as he can get our attention away from what matters most.
Dear Father,
Help us to realize how important it is to keep our eyes away from the things of this world. All the things around us may be signs of Your coming but You have made it clear in Your Word where our focus should be. We need to keep our focus and conversation on You and not on the things that are happening around us. Help us to keep our eyes focused on You so that we will be a light to those around and be ready when You come.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
As we surrender to Christ and perfectly reflect His character all who desire something different in their life will want what we have. And as we share with word and example then the gospel will go to the world and Jesus will come. I believe God is waiting for a people who will perfectly reflect His character and then He can come.
Love you all.
Did you get to witness the eclipse? What were your thoughts?