Staring at the Sun

Two days ago, there was a solar eclipse which was clearly visible to many people in the United States.  I saw pictures of people looking at this event with special glasses.  It caused me to remember a previous solar eclipse which my son, who was in home-schooling at the time, got to watch through the glass on a welder’s helmet.  In contrast, a physics teacher I knew, who had carefully prepared his class to view not the sun itself, but the image created on the back of a pinhole camera, was informed by the school administration that he could not take his class outside to view it.  They were afraid of their liability if some student should think he or she could get away with looking directly at the sun.

Most of us know instinctively that it is not wise to stare at the sun, although we have probably stolen a glimpse when there is enough cloud cover to chance it. There have been cases of people who have blinded themselves by looking directly at it for something other than a quick glance.  It does fascinate us!  This great ball of fire is a part of our daily lives, and we are totally dependent on it.  It is the ultimate source of our energy…not just the obvious solar energy, but all energy.  The sun’s energy was captured by photosynthesis in plants which we eventually release by burning wood, coal, peat, oil or gas.  The movement of the wind comes from unequal heating.  Nuclear power copies the reactions on the surface of the sun.

We accept that we cannot stare at the sun, but we do not think enough about the one who created it, and whose power is greater.  The one who is the source of all life and who dwells in unapproachable light.  I Timothy 6:15-16  God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.

We can not stare at the sun without an appropriate shield, and we cannot approach God without something/someone between us.  Approaching a holy God in our sinful condition causes not only blindness, but death.  (Exodus 33:20 …no one may see me and live.)  This was the purpose of Christ coming to earth and dying in our place.  Now when we approach God, it is with Christ, our mediator, our shield, between us. 

Hebrews 4: 14-16 …since we have a great high priest…Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess….Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

By the miracle of God’s grace and Christ’s sacrifice, God does not blind us or strike us down when we approach Him.

If we cannot stare at the sun without an appropriate shield, we certainly cannot approach the Creator of the sun without the blood of the Son between us.  If you have not acknowledged your need of Jesus Christ to be your personal Savior and Shield, do it today.  None of us knows when we will have to stand before the one who dwells in unapproachable light.