I believe that this is not a coincidence that a total eclipse will be crossing the continent from northwest to southeast at this point in time in 2017. This year has been marked with divisiveness, intolerance, and outright hatred. The Charlottesville attack and it's response by Trump was a defining moment in the history of race relations that showed the world what we, the United States of America, really stood for. We have spent too many years looking at our differences, the color of our skin, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, etc. Now the entire country has the opportunity to look up together as we view the solar eclipse.
As the eclipse crosses our continent from top to bottom let us remember the words in Matthew 27:50-51, "And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split." As the veil of the temple was split from top to bottom during the crucifixion of Christ, our land will be symbolically split in two, from top to bottom, because our nation has rejected the teachings of Christ and embraced the religions of power and greed. But in the midst of our sins, God has given us the opportunity to look up.
As we look up tomorrow we need to not just marvel at the majestic creation, but to meditate on the magnificent Creator. We need to meditate on the goodness of the Almighty God who created the heavens and the earth. We need to remember the ultimate sacrifice of our God who sent His only Son to earth to take on our sins and to intercede for us. And as we view the eclipse tomorrow let us praise the Lord with the words of Revelation 5:13b, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honor and glory and power,for ever and ever!”
Don't let tomorrow, or any day, go by without acknowledging our great God. And let us continue to pray for healing in our land. Tomorrow our country has the opportunity to look up together. Let us look up in unity and in peace.
Don't forget your special eclipse glasses. We can never look directly at the sun. But its good to know that the Son is looking out for us.