sf977 - How Brightly Are You Shining For Jesus (Genesis 1 14-18)
Genesis 1:14-18
Introduction
Key terms
“Lights” (or “luminaries”), occurs five times in these verses. This word defines the main subject of this paragraph of the creation story.
“To give light on the earth” occurs twice, and it tells us the purpose of the creation of the lights from our standpoint on earth. The heavenly “lights” are for the purpose of giving illumination upon the earth.
I want to borrow the line, “and let them (these created luminaries) be for signs, and for (indicating) seasons, and for days, and years.” I am going to employ the sun and the moon as “signs” of a different sort.
The sun is the center of our solar system. The sun shines by its own underived, unborrowed light. It shines because it burns, and both its burning and its shining are inherent within itself. In this sense, the sun is a great symbol, or “sign,” of Jesus Christ, Who is all in all in the spiritual solar system
John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world.
The shining sun is a striking symbol of Jesus Christ. Now, let’s move a step further. In the analogy provided by our text and related Biblical statements, the moon provides a striking symbol of the church of Jesus Christ, or of the individual Christian.
The Christian is well symbolized by the moon in the night sky. The moon has no light of its own. If it shines at all, it shines with a derived light. So its light is reflected light. It shines merely by standing out in the open, totally exposed to the sun
There are four possible relationships which may prevail at any time between the sun, the moon, and the earth. We will let the earth represent the world of unsaved people, the unconverted world.
1A. An Eclipse of the Moon – A Picture of a Worldly Christian
1B. The natural occurrence
An eclipse of the moon caused by the earth getting between the sun and the moon
In this case, the sun shines as brightly as ever, and the moon has the same capacity to receive and reflect the light of the sun, but the earth has passed between the sun and the moon, blocking off the sun’s light so that it does not reach the surface of the moon.
2B. The spiritual application
This is a picture of what happens when a Christian (or a church) allows the world to get between him and Jesus Christ, thus blocking the light of Christ from full shining within him and upon him and from full reflection by him.
1 John 2:15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
James 4:4 … do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
This problem is especially deadly to a Christian, because, not only does it “cool off” his own spiritual walk with Christ, it also prevents lost people around him from the seeing the reflected light of Christ which should be shining from him.
An eclipse of the Christian — and of Christ — has occurred when the Christian allows the world to come between him and Christ.
2A. The Eclipse of the Sun – A Picture of a Self-Centered Christian
1B. The natural occurrence
An eclipse of the sun by the moon getting between the sun and the earth, thus, the moon itself actually shuts off the sun’s light.
When this occurs, the moon may stand out there, fully exposed to the earth, but unable to shine — because it is severed from its source of light. When this occurs, only the dark side of the moon shows.
2B. The spiritual application
This is what happens when the flesh of the Christian, his “self-life,” is allowed to control him, thus obscuring the light of Christ by selfishness
When this occurs, only the dark side of the Christian, his flesh, shows.
Romans 7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
Any expression of that flesh is deadly to the life and influence of the Christian.
3A. A Crescent or “New Moon,” - A Picture of the Half-Hearted Christian
1B. The natural occurrence
This occurs when the earth gets partially between the sun and the moon, causing a partial eclipse.
2B. The spiritual application
A Biblical example would be Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5); these critical lines occur, “They kept back part.” This is partial obedience.
This is dangerous because it can be misleading to the lost (light house illustration).
4A. A Full Moon – A Picture of the Spiritual Christian
1B. The natural occurrence
In this relationship, the moon simply keeps its face open and toward the sun, with nothing between the sun and the moon, and the sun shines upon it in all the sun’s undimmed brightness.
The secret of a radiant moon; it keeps its face to the sun and reflects its glory. It shines with the sun’s radiance, caught and transmitted by the moon.
2B. The spiritual application
Oh, that Christians might be so occupied with Him, the Sun of Righteousness (Mal. 4:2), that whether in their faces, or in their character, or in their behavior, His glory might be seen.
The Christian life is a matter of properly adjusted, full relationship between the Christian and Jesus Christ. So the life of the Christian should be a series of fresh exposures and new surrenders to Jesus Christ.
Daniel 12:3 Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Application
Which of the four possible arrangements between you and Jesus Christ is true of you at this moment?
Ø Does the world dominate your thinking, your desires, and your motivation?
Ø Is your flesh, allowed to control you and obscure Christ?
Ø Are you guilty of a mere partial surrender?
Ø Or are you a spiritual Christian, with an unhindered testimony and witness, multiplying your influence through others as you share Christ with them?