Somewhere Out There

To the untrained, unassisted eye the depth of darkness is the only thing present in the night sky.

Somewhere, out there in the universe, a star shines bright.

With a telescope, the smallest flicker of light becomes visible. Sitting down with an astronomer at the controls of the Hubble Space Telescope, it becomes apparent that the flicker of light is actually a galaxy exponentially bigger than the Milky Way we find ourselves inhabiting. These flighty flickers of light fill the lens of a telescope. Outer space is filled with galaxies that would take the most skilled professionals multiple lifetimes to calculate.

So it is with faith.

In the darkest dungeon of sin, a glimmer of hope appears.

Initially it looks like an easy escape, providing a provision for pain. With care and kindness, truth is told, and that hope is now reality. Beyond the mere escape from prison, there is a gift of freedom. The magnitude overwhelms and the possibilities of the life to be lived are endless.

Logos - the Word (which became flesh and dwelt among us), Jesus Christ - is our telescope, bringing clarity to hope. Family, friends, fellow followers of Jesus are the astronomer(s) explaining the depths of this galaxy called the Kingdom of God.

Father, Spirit, Son - the triune God- produces in us faith.

As a personal, powerful Savior Jesus gives us the grace we need to be sure of that for which we hope. As a merciful, loving Guide Jesus leads us to a place of certainty of that which we do not see.

Next time you look at the dark night sky, consider how much God cares about you, your family, your friends; those flickers of light that make your day. Also consider the criminals, the political opponents, the theological opposite and your least favorite human; no matter how dark they may seem to be.

Somewhere out there is the Light.

Jesus is the Light.

(Hebrews 11:1, Psalm 8)