Reflection

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

Did you see it on the news? Did you go outside at night and see it? Did you see its glow while driving after dark? What am I talking about? The Beaver Moon, of course! This supermoon appeared in the night sky last week, reaching its peak illumination on the evening of November 5. It captured our attention-bright, full, and seemingly closer than ever. Everyone was talking about it and trying to get a glimpse! It was actually very impressive!

At the beginning of Scripture in Genesis 1, God took six days to create the world. Verses 16-18 record where God created both the sun and the moon to bring light over the day and night. While these verses don’t give us all the details, we know this creation was ordered and detailed. And, it happened by means of God speaking it into being! How cool is that?

We can see this ordering and detail by examining just a few of the moon's fascinating facts. Even though it looks to be the same size as the sun, it is actually 400 times smaller. It completes a rotation of the Earth in 27.3 days. Its rotation is always synchronous, meaning the same side always faces the Earth. The moon has eight lunar phases. Its gravitational pull plays a significant role in the formation of tides on Earth. One of the most fascinating facts about the moon is that it has no light of its own! It simply reflects the light of the sun. The closer it is to the source, the brighter it appears to the world below. 

God also created man in those six days, and we are the only ones of His creation created in His image, which moves us up to be His crowning creation. How does it make you feel knowing that you were part of God’s divine plan from the beginning, created with purpose, with a unique status and dignity? 

We don’t shine by our own strength or goodness — we are a reflection of God’s light, similar to how the moon reflects the light of the sun. When we draw near to Him, His glory is seen more clearly through us. But when we drift away, our light fades, not because His light has dimmed, but because we’ve turned from its source.

In John 8:12, Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Jesus was the image of God on earth, and therefore is the perfect example of how to share this image with others. When we follow Christ, we are called to live as a new creation, one who is set apart and is a reflection of the God who created us and loves us. We are to have compassion on others and share the love of God with them.  We should live so that others see something different in us, so people are attracted to us, like they were this past week to the supermoon. 

In a dark world, even a small reflection of His love can shine brilliantly. Just as the supermoon lit up the night sky, our lives — centered on Christ — can light up the places around us. As we approach the holidays and live in trying times, we must acknowledge that God is the Master Creator of the universe, that He has a divine purpose in everything, that we are created in His image, and that we are to reflect His light to a dark world in need of love and rescue. 

Call to Action

Spend some time outside in creation, reflecting on its beauty and magnificence, and also on your role in it. 

Take a good look in a mirror. Do you see a unique, special creation of God? How can you see yourself as God does? How will that impact your outlook on life and your relationships with others?

Are you close to the Source, or have you drifted? What steps can you take to stay or move close to God so that you will reflect His light as bright as possible?

Make a list of practical ways you can reflect God’s image to those you come in contact with on a daily basis.

Digging Deeper

Read Genesis 1 and 2 and take notes on each day’s creation. Here are other verses to check out: Psalm 139:13-14, Deuteronomy 7:6-9, Romans 8:29, ​​2 Corinthians 3:18, Ephesians 5:1-2, 1 Peter 2:21.

Prayer:
God, thank you for your creation with all of its beauty and amazement. Help me take care of it and appreciate it. Thank you for creating me in Your image. Draw me close to You so that Your love and truth reflect through me. May my life point others to You. Amen.

“God created us in His image so that we would display or reflect or communicate who he is, how great he is, and what he is like. So I think being created in the image of God means that we image God. We reflect God. We live in a way, we think in a way, we feel in a way, we speak in a way that calls attention to the brightness of the glory of God.” 

John Piper [Source: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-does-it-mean-to-be-made-in-gods-image]

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