God's Handiwork in the Heavens

On August 21, 2017, millions of people witnessed the last full solar eclipse. While I have a great appreciation for the wonders in the skies and on the earth, I didn’t get carried away with it all until I was at my car dealership. The service guys were outside with their welder’s masks. My service rep called me over to look. Indeed it was a sight to behold.

Fast forward to today, April 8th, 2024. I don't really know what this day holds, but I know who holds today! There is massive enthusiasm about today's total solar eclipse. I read that in Gatesville, Texas, members of Coryell Community Church will congregate at the campus’ hilltop site where a trio of 70-foot crosses tower over the city of 17,000, 38 miles west of Waco.

The region lies in the center of the approaching solar eclipse’s path of totality. Coryell’s “Eclipse of the Crosses” family gathering will feature live music, games, and worship – an occasion to celebrate. Meanwhile, organizers at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo have bought a thousand eclipse glasses for a viewing event, complete with black-and-white half-moon cookies.

“An eclipse is yet another opportunity to witness the handiwork of God that exists in the universe,” said Eric Moffett, Coryell’s lead pastor. “We aren’t looking for any omens in the cosmos, but we are using this as an opportunity, for a little over four minutes, to be reminded that we live in a world made by God and sustained by his love and goodness.”

Our community has partnered with our next door neighbors, Texas Children's Hospital, to have a Solar Viewing Party on their outdoors seventh floor. We'll have our special glasses to, hopefully, watch the phenonmenon.

I never thought of it, but I understand that it was most likely a solar eclipse that God, the Father, displayed in darkness of Jesus’ crucifixion. That’s enough to inspire fear AND awe. As the Gospel of Mark 15:33 reads: "And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour."

I read that many world religions are taking this total solar eclipse very seriously. Some of the omens are frightful and some are indicating the sovereignty of God. When I look at this world, and all its inhabitants, I can’t help but believe that our God is in MASTER control.

Our part, as believers in our God Who with nothing escapes His mighty eyes and His sovereign plans, is to look at this world of conflict and distress. We don’t really need an eclipse to know it’s time to get right with God and the people in our lives so that we have no regrets.

If you are an eclipse chaser, which I understand will, in most cases, require tons of patience as tons of vehicles will be making their way to the best viewing of the eclipse, then enjoy the ride and the darkness.

What I am saying is beyond the darkness (of the sun), there is ALWAYS the LIGHT of our Lord and Savior. Even during the darkest times, we know by faith that God puts a path before us and calls us to follow. Let’s remember to act not only on what we experience with our senses, but always and in all circumstances to live by faith.

God knows our todays — the dark shadows that may come and the bright sunlight that drives out the darkness. We can know every day the sun (The Son) is always shining brightly. Our Creator has something special up His sovereign sleeves.

Let’s keep our “Son” glasses on and keep our eyes on He Who destroys the darkness! "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:28