“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1 NIV).
Every day we are spared from death. While the sun is absolutely essential for life, without certain protective layers surrounding our planet, its radiation would destroy us. Violent storms and eruptions on its surface hurl massive gusts of charged particles at the earth. In silent submission to the voice of God, invisible magnetic fields, called the Van Allen Belts, encircle the earth to absorb and dissipate these potentially deadly cosmic forces.
Particularly during peak solar activity, these unseen lethal particles collide with earth’s magnetic fields and the upper layers of our atmosphere to produce the breathtaking displays we call “auroras.” Visible primarily in far northern and southern areas of the earth, they brilliantly paint the night skies with iridescent whites along with most every color of the rainbow. Actively flickering, shifting, and shimmering in ethereal patterns, they seemingly dance across the heavens.
People travel great distances hoping to get a glimpse of this wondrous display of color and light. Perhaps you’ve had the privilege of experiencing this in person. If not, look at the picture above and imagine you and I are actually seeing this with our own eyes. The air is cool and crisp. We look up and stand in awe of its splendor without a single thought of death. And yet, what most certainly would have destroyed us, God miraculously transforms into something of great beauty.
Now, lift up the eyes of your heart to the cross of Christ. Could anything be more beautiful? But how could that be? Dead in our trespasses and sins, we are cursed and condemned – it is repulsive and we hang on it. Washed by the precious blood of Christ and clothed in His righteousness, we come alive and glory in it! More brilliant and breathtaking than any aurora, God has transformed this instrument of death into something of amazing splendor and majesty!
The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ forever stands between destruction and us. The forces of sin, death and hell sought to overwhelm us, but the cross became the divine crosshairs where mercy and wrath, grace and judgment were forever reconciled.
Look up! It’s a beautiful day. The unfathomable spectrum of God’s grace is in full view. Perhaps today is a good day to give thanks to God for the gift of His Son and life itself.
“But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Galatians 6:14a NASB).
© 2013 Tim McKenzie – www.OnEveryWord.com