I don’t know if this photo of the lunar eclipse is Photo-shopped, but it looks awesome either way. It also made me stop and think about something I think is extremely important. It made me think about God, myself, and how I relate to Him.

In John 8:12, Jesus says, “Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” In Matthew 5:14 He says “You are the light of the world.” As I looked in the sky the other day, and then saw this photo, I was deeply impressed by the gorgeous picture it painted of these two verses and the incredible contrast between the way things are and the way we want things to be.

In this life, many, if not most, of us spend a great deal of time, energy, and resources making sure we are the center of attention, making sure we “get ours” and are successful at all we do. I get that. I suppose that’s a better plan than intentionally being awful at everything, right?

However, it also tends to make us focus on self and, over time, begin to believe that we are actually the source of the light we give off. It isn’t hard to forget that Jesus is actually the light of the World. How, then, can Matthew also tell us we are the ones who are the light of the world?

It is simple, really. Matthew reminds us we are the moon.

You see, the moon doesn’t create its own light. It only reflects the light from the sun, and as you can see in this picture, it reflects differently at different times the varied nature of the light which is its source. In this picture the yellow to blue to red transformation really displayed to me its awesome beauty. What a gorgeous depiction of the Divine Creator’s handiwork!

I also know from social media that I was’t the only one looking and seeing this grand show. People all over the world were watching. And so it is with Christ and our walk with Him.

Just like the moon, we do not emit light of our own accord, we only reflect His light. Our role as the “lights of the world” is only fulfilled as we uniquely and adequately reflect the true “Light of the World”, Jesus. What a privilege to take this Light to the darkness that surrounds us.

And just as it was with the lunar eclipse, when we reflect the Light of the World in our lives, it is only natural that people from all walks of life would, as they did with the eclipse, watch the dazzling display of wonder.

I once had a student who was pouring out her heart out in pain and anger over some life situation that, to her, seemed to be the end of the world. I spotted the issue fairly early as she talked, and when she was finished the details of the drama she was experiencing, I counseled her by drawing a picture.

On my desk calendar, I drew a small picture of the solar system. In the center, of course, there was a giant sun. I simply drew an arrow to the sun and wrote, “Not You.”

So often our minds paint ourselves as the life-giving sun, when in reality all we have been called to be is the Light-reflecting moon.

We aren’t the sun, be the moon!!