Pastor's Column 11/10/2024

PASTOR’S COLUMN

“God made two great lights – the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. Genesis 1:16, NIV

“Also, The Stars!”

When Vice President Kamala Harris gave her concession speech after losing the Presidential race, she told students at Howard University -many of whom had voted for the first time and expected a victory – “It is only when you look out into the dark, that you will see the stars.” She then reminded them that they too could find billions of stars to lead them forward, despite the bleak and dark moment they were experiencing. It is never  easy for any of us to taste the bitter dregs in the cup of defeat. However, it is the bitterness that becomes a foretaste of better things to come. When God created the great lights to illuminate a dark, newly created earth, He created the dominant light, the Sun, for the daytime. He then created and commissioned  the Moon to shine during the nighttime. Both the Sun and Moon are powerful planets, which emit lights that also become a source of energy. The people of ancient times had  much reverence for these lights; because certain illnesses, and the motion of large bodies of water which affected climates, were attributed to solar and lunar effects.  If we did not have the Sun and Moon our world possibly could disintegrate. Aware of their influence, David assures us that if we are confident in God’s protection, “The Sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.” (Psalm 121:6, KJV). Our disappointments have a way of causing us to feel defeated or abandoned. But God always sends the light of His presence to lead us along our journey. The earth is so vast that the Creation story does not attribute all of light to the Sun and Moon. There is the short statement, informing us after God created the two great lights: “He also made the stars.” The stars provide points of light to areas that  are not reached by the great lights, as important as they are. We should all come to realize and celebrate the “point of light” we are . We can learn from life’s disappointments. We can shake off the negative (dis) and embrace the appointment God has given us to turn failure into success! We should be grateful God  “also made the stars.”  To shine in our place is our destiny!