Shadows[Of Sky and Soul]

October 8th, 2014 - "STARGAZERS in the Americas, Australia and Asia have witnessed a lunar eclipse, a celestial show that has bathed the moon in red to create a “Blood Moon.” Evening viewers in much of Asia and early risers in parts of the Americas were treated to a stunning lunar eclipse, though clouds obscured it for some.

Lucky ones saw the moon turn orange or red in what is known as a “blood moon.” The striking colour results from sunlight scattering off Earth’s atmosphere." (www.news.com.au)

Tuesday night, Tom, Josh, Hannah and I lounged on my comfy double bed for over an hour waiting to spot the lunar eclipse. The night was clear and the stars sparkled in the inky sky. The moon rose higher and higher, shining in through my almost-clean window onto my face and making me squint in it's brightness. We talked and laughed and watched videos on my phone. As the moments passed, we floppped down onto the mattress and our eyes grew heavy with sleep. The time came and went and the moon remained a beautiful silver colour. The eclipse had not happened.
We had the right event but the wrong date. The eclipse was scheduled for Wednesday night and through some communication error, we had gotten mixed up. So, Wednesday night we again assembled in my room, but this time, there was a thick cloud cover and the sky was dark and private. We missed the eclipse altogether.
I was disappointed, I really want to see the eclipse and seeing as the next one is expected in 2032 or 2033, I'll be waiting a long time for another opportunity. But as I thought about what the eclipse is a result of, a parallel crept into my head. Come with me.

My ultimate duty, as a christian, is to reflect the character of God's Son. Just like the moon, this
reflection can provide a gentle, silvery, beautiful light to those who stumble in darkness in the world. But sometimes, I let the world itself get between me and the Light Source. Maybe it's something I want to listen to, something I want to watch, somewhere I want to go or anything that is not part of God's perfect plan for me. For that moment, I take my eyes off Jesus and ignore His perfect counsel and for that moment, until I plead forgiveness and reconsecrate myself to Him, the world comes between the Light and the Mirror and I can no longer reflect a perfect picture to the world.

"It is impossible for any of us by our own power or our own efforts to work this change in ourselves. It is the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, which Jesus said He would send into the world, that changes our character into the image of Christ; and when this is accomplished, we reflect, as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord. That is, the character of the one who thus beholds Christ is so like His, that one looking at him sees Christ’s own character shining out as from a mirror. Imperceptibly to ourselves, we are changed day by day from our ways and will into the ways and will of Christ, into the loveliness of His character. Thus we grow up into Christ, and unconsciously reflect His image."

EGW - Reflecting Christ pg 20