This morning the sunrise was a wonderful mix of glowing orange, yellows and reds. The photographs don’t really do it justice. The British weather is so varied and wonderful that clear skies don’t come along very often. I tried my best to get a picture of the stars last night, and I was lucky enough to have the constellation of Orion right in front of me in the garden. I find stars, and the planets fascinating, I always have and as a child I spent many hours outside with a pair of binoculars just gazing upwards trying to memorise the stars and the constellations and watching, hoping for the sight of a shooting star or an astroid.

I do think we are not looking up as often as we should be, just looking up and wondering. Back in the old testament times when the stories were unfolding themselves, there was less pollution from light and a lot of the stories we read are from nomads living in tents, certainly Moses and Abraham lived in tents and they could just step outside and be amazed at the stars. See the wondrous collection of miracles in the sky.

I have one vibrant memory of going camping with a few mates in the Manifold valley in Derbyshire. We parked the car and pitched the tent, and then because there was no light pollution and a very clear night we all just lay there on top of the car just watching the stars, we stayed there looking up without talking for what must have been a good hour. The wonder of the sky.

How awesome is our God that He created all this and set them in place. Each planet and star has its own orbit or course to follow and God has destined everything to be as it is, for our benefit. I am not sure how anyone could look at nature in all of its wonder and state that there is no creator, just random freak chance.

There is a fascinating verse in Ephesians;

Ephesians 1:7-10

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Two phrases really jump out –

1. making known to us – God has made known to us His glory through general revelation in the creation, and through Christ so that we can have no excuses.
2. a plan…to unite all things in Him – How I want to shout with joy when I read this. This material world is not the end, God wants to reunite you with him, and we can reunite ourselves with the Father through the Son – just accepting him as our Lord and saviour and repenting of our sinful ways, our greed, our selfishness. We need to stop doubting Him, and accept Him.

Psalm 8:4

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

 God has experienced what it is to be human, and just as he has set all the stars and planets and the moons in the places, and on their courses, he has set each of us in our places. Some of us may be gifted to be in positions of authority, or leaders, or just in supporting roles. We must do our bit to use our position, our place, to help others, to do God’s will. Jesus didn’t help everyone on earth when He arrived, He helped one person at a time, and so must we. If we are faced with someone that we can help we must stop and do our best with the gifts that God has given to us, to help them and to bring them to Christ so that all can be reunited with God, because that is His plan for you.

I pray today that Christ’s mind should direct the Holy Spirit to guide you in your day.

Blessings

Graham