One way you know
Christmas and the New Year are here apart from the decorations and the songs is
through fireworks! Granted the unexpected and unnecessary sound of fireworks
can be annoying and can cause your blood pressure to go up a notch, we can all
agree that there are no better sights than a fireworks display in the dark sky.
We look up and join the “wow” “ooh” choruses as we are dazzled by the beauty
and splendor of the spectacular explosions. It is truly amazing that man can
light up the sky in such a beautiful way albeit for a short while and has every
right to be wowed by such innovation. I at least have every intention of
letting off a few fireworks myself this week.
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| A spectacular fireworks display |
As you are impressed by
the lights from the fireworks this week, I would like to remind you that from
January to December there is a light that brightens the dark sky every night
and we have got so used to it that we have forgotten its glory and splendor. We
have become too familiar with the moon and its spectacular light that we
actually do not notice it.
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| The moon at dawn |
The moon is 384, 400 km away from
the earth and has a radius of 1,737 km and a surface area of about 38 million
square kilometers almost the surface area of Asia. Its weight is over 80
quintillions (yeah let’s leave it at that). The temperature at the moon ranges
from -173 degrees to 127 degrees Celsius.
The amazing thing is that
year after year it makes its circuit without complications (despite its size
and weight) and it faithfully and quietly lights up the sky and we simply do
not notice. What’s even more amazing is the fact that the moon pales in
comparison to the size, heat and light of the sun. We should be grateful the
sun is just the right distance from the earth otherwise we would be toast. Even
the sun is simply another star in a galaxy of spectacular stars.
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| The Heavens declare the glory of God |
And God made them all! “It
is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like
grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a
curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; who brings princes to
nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. Scarcely are they
planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when
he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like
stubble. To whom then will you compare me that I should be like him? Says the
Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings
out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might,
and because he is strong in power not one is missing” (Isaiah 40:22-26).
The psalmist then tells
us “the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his
handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There
is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard” (Psalm 19:1-3)
No wonder when the wise
men from the east followed the bright star it led them to the creator of the
universe who had just become man and they rightly fell on their knees and worshiped.
Because while we should be amazed at the wonder and beauty of the bright
shining stars, we should above all else honor the one who created them.
So as we marvel at the
fireworks that will be beautifully lighting up the sky this festive season, remember
the moon has been doing so for thousands of years at the creator’s command. Let
your amazement and delights lead you to worship the creator whose glory is displayed
daily by His creation.
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