"And the sun was darkened"

 THE total eclipse of the sun by the moon last month has come and gone. This rare occurrence has generated many thousands of words, but how many of these referred to the Maker of those heavenly bodies? Of the millions who gazed at the strange sight, how many, like the Psalmist, thought of God as the Creator? "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork," said David. "Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge" (Psalm 19:1,2). Deaf indeed is the man who does not hear that voice, but instead listens to the lie of evolution. Truly blind is the man who does not see in the heavens the clearest testimony to the creative power of the eternal God.

If we had eyes to see, we would believe the evidence that the eclipse presents of the fact that God is also the Governor of the universe. He upholds the heavenly bodies in existence, controls their orbits, and preserves them in their relationship one to another; it is He who has established, and maintains, the laws of nature. But modern man reckons himself wiser than God. Men think they can control their own destiny and be independent of God. Beneficial advances in medicine, science, and information technology do not move them to feel indebted to the Divine Giver of "every good gift and every perfect gift", but rather, like Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, they attribute glory to themselves. During an eclipse there are some pagans who foolishly think that they themselves cause the darkness to disappear, by frightening the "monster" away from the sun by their frenzied shouting and beating of gongs and drums. No less foolish are those who self-confidently think they have such power and resources that they can carve out their own future without reference to God. Deaf indeed is the man who never hears God in His providence, or in Scripture, asking the question, "Ye fools, when will ye be wise?" (Psl. 94:8).

No doubt, when awesome darkness enveloped some parts of the country on August 11, some people were reminded of the darkness which prevailed when Christ was dying upon the cross almost 2000 years ago. "Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mat. 27:46). The darkness having lasted so long and occurring at the time of full moon shows that it was not due to a natural eclipse – but what did it mean? Surely it spoke of the awful desertion, darkness and damnation which Christ had to endure for His people. Apart from His atoning death they could not avoid being banished to eternal blackness of darkness for their sins. Happy indeed is the man who looks with the eye of faith to Christ, who has not only risen victorious from the tomb but is the Sun of righteousness who has arisen upon His believing people with healing in His wings (Mal. 4:2)

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