CME

Is it a sunny day as you read this? Can we see the glow from our not-too-distant star that provides our light, warmth, seasons?  Through distant lenses, we get to see the turmoil that creates coronal mass ejections (CME), which in turn creates aurora borealis and austrailis. We can’t look directly at this light source without damaging our eyesight.

And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. (Exodus 33:18 KJV)

Moses wanted to see God. He had listened to God, followed God, spoken for God in Egypt and led God’s people toward their promised land, but all he had seen was a burning bush followed by pillars of cloud and fire. His request reminds me of Philip’s request from Jesus:

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. (John 14:8 KJV)

Looking directly at God would damage a man, as looking at the sun would damage a man’s eyes.

And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. (Exodus 33:20 KJV)

Yet each one of us would make the same request that Moses and Philip did. Philip heard that question from a couple of men about Jesus, too:

The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. (John 12:21 KJV)

We would, too, and some day we will.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (Revelation 19:11-13 KJV)

Of course, we'll be different then, too:

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1:23)

Paul gave a longer explanation:

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)

According to John, in his Revelation, these new bodies will have no need of our star's light:

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. (Revelation 21:23)

That is beyond our imagination, isn't it? Too often we give up even thinking about things we cannot wrap our minds around and find an explanation somewhere. So, we look for answers in the 'natural' realm, ignoring how well designed the universe is, how perfectly adapted this world is to the fostering of mankind. We have a tendency to think it will last and we can control our surroundings. We forget Moses' writings and David's songs on the matter -- or choose to ignore them:

Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.(Deuteronomy 10:14)

The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalms 24:1)

In another Psalm we're told what God did with the earth:

The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. (Psalms 115:16)

Are those thoughts overwhelming? No need for them to be. Spend some time getting to know Him through His word.