Same Sun

READ: Isaiah 60:1-2

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

Went on vacation last spring. Drove a thousand miles. Sat on the beach. Enjoyed the warmth of the sun as it shone down on a body that craved toasty temps. Loved every UV ray.

Got back in the van. Drove a thousand miles back home. No sun to be seen. Got out and nearly froze my toes off. Rushed to get inside—back to indoor warmth.

What exactly happened here? Was the sun missing when I left Michigan? Did I have to drive 1,000 miles to find it? Was it AWOL from the Wolverine State and present on the Gulf Coast? Why did the sun warm me on the beach and seem irrelevant in the north?

After all, it was the same sun—that huge source of all warmth. It was the same brilliant light in the sky. So why did I have to do all that driving just to feel its effects? Simply this: In Michigan, stuff got between the sun and me.

Nothing about the sun had changed. But because of my situation, I could enjoy the sun without the blockage from clouds, the discomfort of cold air fronts, and the rays coming in at a different angle.

Think about two Christians. Maybe you and a friend. The friend seems to bask in the warmth of God’s love, the comfort of God’s grace, and the hope of God’s promises. But sometimes you can’t feel the closeness of that same heavenly Father. What happened here? Was it God’s fault? Was He farther away from you than from your friend? Do you have two different Gods?

Of course not.

For a variety of reasons, you’ve allowed something to block God from having an impact on your life. Maybe it’s a cloud of sin. Maybe it’s the indifference of a cold heart. Perhaps you’ve allowed yourself to drift away.

Just as the sun is the same everywhere, yet it affects us differently because of where we are, so also God is the same for each of us. In your spiritual journey, you can find ways to remove the blockages by confessing your sins to Him (1 John 1:9). Let the warm light of His love shine on you today. Return to the glow of His affection. That’s way better than a day at the beach. —Dave Branon

REFLECTION

• Okay, I admit it. I’m the one who seems blocked from Jesus’ warm love. What is shutting me off from enjoying my Savior?
• How can I help a friend who seems under the cloud? What can I say to him?

Remove the Son-block and enjoy His warmth.