I was reminded recently that the moon illuminates this dark world not by producing its own light, but by reflecting the light of the sun.

Which is of course the perfect analogy for what the Christian is to do in our dark world: We are to reflect the light of the Son.

It’s not an easy task, is it? And we’re nowhere near as reliable as the moon, which reflects the light of the sun almost constantly, even when clouds obscure our view of it. 

How does the moon do it? By almost always being in a position to receive and reflect the sun’s light.

What does this suggest for Christians?

Maybe this: That we are not to try to shine in our own right, but to remain in position to receive and reflect the light of Christ. “I am the light of the world,” He said, as recorded in John 8. “He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”  

How should this play out in our lives?

I suppose that will be different for each of us, different perhaps from day to day and even minute to minute. But take note of some important lessons that we might learn from the moon’s relationship with the sun.

For instance, note the passive tense in the description above: The moon does its job by being in position to receive and reflect the sun’s light – not by positioning itself to do so. It simply obeys the laws that the Creator established in the beginning.

Does this tell us that if Christians obey God’s commands and precepts, as detailed in the Bible, we will usually be in position to reflect the Son’s light?  

I say “usually,” because there is one exception to the moon’s constant reflection of the sun’s light: the lunar eclipse. It happens when the earth is positioned between the moon and the sun, blocking the moon from the sun’s light.  

Is that perhaps an acknowledgement that our obedience will never be perfect in this life, a reminder that when we allow the world to block His light, we will ourselves be blanketed in darkness? Or does it suggest that no matter how obedient we are, there will be times in our lives when we as humans won’t be up to the task?  

The Lord has revealed so much of Himself to us in His creation, and so much about ourselves; the moon is just one more thrilling example. If you’d like to take a closer look at what it has to teach us, check out Our Created Moon: Earth’s Fascinating Neighbor, written by Dr. John Whitcomb and Dr. Don DeYoung.   

In the meantime, ponder the opening lines of King David’s Psalm 19: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.  Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.  There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.”

We would do well to pay attention.

This year, instead of sending out Christmas letters recapping your family's achievements, acquisitions and worldly pleasures for the past year, how about sharing news of eternal value? 

That's what my Adult Bible Fellowship classmate Karen Glass does. Each year, she composes and encloses lovely gospel messages with her Christmas cards, sending them to all of her neighbors, co-workers, doctors, relatives and friends.

Why does she do it?

"'Tis the Season to publish the 'Glad Tidings' of God’s salvation plan to all mankind," she explains, pointing out that 2 Timothy 4:2 tells us to "preach the Word, be instant in season and out of season." 

"It is my Christmas present to Jesus for His 'unspeakable gift' to me." 

Karen was kind enough to give me permission to share this year's letter with readers of Eternal Eyes. And she invites you to use any or all of it in your own Christmas messages. Here 'tis:

It’s that time again! It’s here so soon! It’s Christmas and a New Year!

How can 2014 be ending already? God says in His Word, “For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14)  Also, “The days of our years are 70; and if by reason of strength they be 80, for our lives are soon cut off and we fly away.” Since this is true, wouldn’t it be wonderful to be given eternal life as a Christmas gift? It is possible.

How do you get the gift of eternal life?

The Bible says eternal life is found in a person.  If you have this person, you have eternal life. (I. John 5:11,12) “This is the record, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

Who is this Son of God and how do you ”get” Him?

The Son of God is Jesus, the Savior of the world!!!  Jesus is God, Himself, Who left Heaven in order to offer Himself as substitute payment for your sins.  Unlike us, Jesus was born without a sinful nature and He kept His Father’s law of righteousness perfectly.  He never sinned: He never lied, He never stole anything, He never envied anyone, He never used His Father’s name in a vain way etc.  He was even able to keep the 1st. commandment; “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30) He was crucified to satisfy the Father’s sense of justice; sin has to be paid for. “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans. 6:23)

Why do I need a Savior from sin, I’m a very nice person?

God’s standard of righteousness is perfection.  Only one sin keeps you from eternal life.  “For whoever keeps the whole law, yet offends in one point, is guilty of all.” (James 2:10) “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saves us.” (Titus 3:5)  Your good works and being nice won’t pay for your sins, only the blood of Jesus shed on the cross is acceptable payment in God’s eyes. “Without shedding of blood there is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22) “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.” (I. John 1:7) This means of salvation was foretold 100’s of years before it happened.  Read Isaiah 53 to understand what Jesus did and why.  “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

So, if you want eternal life ask God for mercy, putting your faith in His Son’s sacrifice for your sins.  Don’t wait…time is running out.

May you receive God’s gift of His Son and eternal life this Christmas!

“Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!”

(II. Corinthinians 9:15)

"Everything’s different when you frame your life picture in the biblical worldview.  Suddenly it all makes sense. Just about every piece of information, experience, and idea in the box of your life fits into this frame. As long as they’re thoroughly vetted, there’s no need to force these pieces, or trim them back, or throw them away.

"Sure, there are some pieces that don’t seem to fit up front. You set them aside – throw them back in with the other loose pieces, perhaps those with the same colors – until you’ve got enough to work up a new section of the picture. Or until you notice that they fit somewhere else.

"That happens to me constantly now, especially when I’m reading the Bible. I will go over a New Testament passage for the fourth time and suddenly realize, like a bolt out of the blue, that it answers some pesky question I had back in Genesis. Or I’ll do a word-by-word study of a verse that has captured my attention, and suddenly a little-noticed preposition or article will bring the whole thing to life for me.

"There are some other amazing things about the biblical-worldview frame, too.

"For one thing, it seems to repel fear. The Bible reportedly says 'fear not,' in various ways, 365 times – once for every day of the year, if whoever counted these mentions is correct. When I take the time to view a troubling circumstance through the biblical framework, fear flees. I have no more anxiety about going broke. I no longer step on the imaginary brake on the passenger side of the car. I have, it seems, no fear of dying – or at least such a dramatic reduction in that fundamental fear that situations which once sent me into a panic barely ruffle me these days.

"It’s almost like He’s turned me into an entirely new creature."

-- from Heaven Without Her, pp 190-191

Just came across this list of eight of eternity's attributes -- a list I saved back in 2003. Whether I put it together or found it somewhere on the internet, I have no idea; either way, it's wonderful to ponder some of the things that the Bible says we can expect to enjoy forever, as long as we have repented and trusted in Christ. 

1.      There is a place prepared for the redeemed, and we will be there with Jesus.

John 14:2-3: In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 

2.  We will be unlimited by physical properties.

John 20:26: And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!"

3.  We will be like Jesus.

1 John 3:2: Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

4. We will have new bodies.

1 Corinthians 15:36-40 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain--perhaps wheat or some other grain. But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

5. It will be wonderful beyond our earthly imaginations.

1 Corinthians 2:9: But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

6.  It will be a new environment.

Revelation 21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

7.  It will be a new experience of God’s presence.

Revelation 21:3: And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.”

8.      We will be free of sorrow.

Revelation 21:4: And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

1. Where did I come from?

2. What am I doing here?

3. Where am I going?

4. What is my source of authority for these answers?

And one more, posed by Jesus Christ in Matthew 16, Mark 8 and Luke 9:

5. "Who do you say that I am?"

I think every Christian must enjoy imagining what heaven will be like. But there’s one special fantasy I encountered almost a decade ago – a fantasy that makes me smile every time it crosses my mind. It appears on pages 161-162 of Heaven Without Her:

These clear indications of the Bible’s divine origins had brought me within shouting distance of absolute faith. I can’t explain why they made such a difference, except to say that perhaps the untruths I’d been taught had been a major barrier to belief for me. (Not to mention wanting nothing to do with that God who was so determined to ruin my good time.)

But now, this barrier was crumbling, giving me a glimpse of something that might be heaven.

My mother certainly believed in a heavenly future for herself. She made it clear daily in her speech and attitudes. And she even put it in writing.

I didn’t know about the writing part of it until 2005, when I finally summoned up enough courage to read her journal. It was one of those Meade Composition books with rounded corners and pages lined in pale blue. Only about a third of the pages were filled in, but the book was stuffed with loose sheets; like any compulsive writer, she wrote whenever the spirit moved her on whatever paper was handy. No doubt for every page that had made it into this book, there were dozens that had been lost along the way to a conscientious cleaning staff.          

Her feelings about death were beginning to make sense.

“I do not understand," she’d written in a clear hand, obviously when she’d still been in fairly decent health, "why people feel that, because I do not fear death, it is a sign of despondency. To me it looks like the greatest adventure of them all."

There was that word again: adventure.

“I am tired of lugging this decaying body around. I can no longer plan a trip to Africa or China or Russia. But perhaps I may one day walk down strange and lovely streets with someone I love and stop at 10 a.m. for a glass of beer."

My heart stopped.

She’d been recalling one crisp October morning in the late ‘70s when she and I were walking the cobblestone streets of the old city in Salzburg, Austria. We were happy and healthy and ready for a day of exploring the wonders of this beautiful town, having just finished a delicious breakfast at our cheap-but-clean hotel near the train station. Although she wasn’t a great fan of drinking herself, she did appreciate a good European beer now and then. And that happy morning, as a nearby clock struck 10, she suggested we stop for a beer. It was a good memory for both of us; but it bowled me over that it had made it into her fantasies of heaven.

“Anybody, almost, can go to Europe," she wrote. "But I would like to venture into the great unknown. Is that so ridiculous? Will I see those whom I have ‘loved and lost awhile’ once more?

“I believe so.”

I believe so, too. And the reunion is going to be heavenly, indeed.