Lift up your eyes

Looking at the floor, I see my feet walking forward. Watching my steps I enjoy the beat of music filling my ears. It’s dark. As the cold night air wraps itself around me, I look up. A full, golden moon is straight ahead, casting its light. Showtime. The outline of the grey clouds become a stage curtain slowly revealing more of its glimmering light. Moonlight. A spotlight.

Another day. Sunlight breaks through layers of grey. Its rays bounce along the water. Happy and free. Stretching across the horizon, the light warms me from the inside out. I’m happy. The salty water is inhaled and the beauty of wonder is exhaled as I sigh. Relaxing. The water laps closer to my feet. I look up and see more light. Clouds disperse. Make way for the glorious light. Heaven beckons.

Mankind can do a lot of amazing things. But not that. It cannot recreate this wonder. This delight. This majestic view.

Whether day or night, there is real, lasting, Light. There is hope. Even darkness is driven away by the presence of light. It disperses. It has no hold on the light. The light shines in the darkness. Weeping comes for the night, joy in the morning. New mercies are found every day.

Standing in awe of the magnificence of the night sky, with its galaxies, countless stars and full moon, I feel I am but a speck. But a speck with significance. God sees me, created me, sustains me, loves me. And still holds the universe. He is Light. The darkness is not dark to Him. There is no darkness because Jesus is the light. The light in a world that is so often dark and despairing.

Whether we recognise our need for Jesus or not, the day and the night, the sun and the moon, the light and the dark are a reminder that time is passing. We roll from one season to another, spending so much time looking down, going from here to there. The end of January is already drawing closer. Time is ticking, precious and fleeting. So I encourage you to lift up your eyes with expectancy.

Today is a gift given to us by the Giver of all good gifts. It’s another chapter in our story as the Author of life sustains us. We are loved by Love Himself. As we look at a stunning sunrise or dance beneath the stars, know His love. Let’s lift up our eyes to the One who was lifted up on the cross for us. May His light shine into those dark places of our heart and mind. May His love cause us to keep lifting up our eyes to know Him deeply.

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
This understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:28-31