Stars

Just read this great article on RZIM (Ravi Zacharius Innternational Ministries). He's got this blog called "Just Thinking" where leading apologists and missionaries share insight. It's pretty great.

Here's a link to the article I'm focusing on in this post: http://www.rzim.org/just-thinking/of-shining-stars/ (By Andy Bannister).




Have you ever been out in the country on a cold clear night, and looked up to see millions of beautiful lights shimmering against a black sky? It's pretty incredible. I'm fortunate enough to live in the country, so stars are something I get to see often. They serve as a great reminder of God's incredible power, and of our purpose as Christians.

In his post, Bannister starts by giving a description of stars just like I have, and then presents this passage of scripture:


Philippians 2:12-16a 
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.


I really love this passage- not only because it's Paul (Who's a beast), but because of the imagery he gives.

Before reading this passage, the stars were more connected with God's omnipotence, rather than my own life. One of my favorite peices of scripture comes from Isaiah 40-

"Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
    Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
    not one of them is missing."

After reading this article though, I see that they have a double meaning. Not only are the stars a testiment to God's greatness, it alludes to the potential he's given all of us. We were made in his image- and have the opportunity to tap into his great power.

More than that though, they provide a metaphor for our Christian lives. They show us HOW to tap into that potential power.

Some more connections: 

I wish I could say this is my insight- but Andy Bannister is a lot smarter than I am, and the following similarites are his reveleation.

1. Stars by themselves aren't so great. One star all by it's lonesome doesn't really mean anything. Put hundreds of them together- and you can practically read by the light. It's the same thing with Christians- we're made for community.

2. They don't stand still. Stars aren't idle. They have patterns, but they move. It should be the same with us. An idle spiritual life means spiritual death.

3. They follow a fixed point (the North Star). It's the only one that really doesn't move. (And if it does, well, remember- this is just a metaphor. It's not perfect). I don't think I can even come close to paraphrasing Bannister's Idea well, so here's the quote on this one:

(Referring again to stars)
In particular, they rotate, slowly wheeling around a singular fixed point in the night sky—the North or Pole Star. Significantly, Christians together tell the story of hope in darkness when their axis is God alone—not an issue or a common interest—but the person of Christ who was born, died, and was raised. The expectant Christian story continues to be told, as it was to the magi long ago, when the Christ child is the fixed point, our north star, our pole star, and when it is he who determines how we move and turn.

Sometimes I sit and think about creation. I'm no one to try and speculate why God has created things- but I feel like God intentionally puts things in our lives to help us understand. Our minds can't quite grasp him all the time- but he gives us pictures- metaphors- to help us out. Pretty epic.

I leave you with this final quote from Bannister. It's more on the unity of the stars (and us), and I think it's a good way to end this post.

Likewise, it is Christ’s story that makes the collective light of Christianity shine brightly amidst the darkness. It is Jesus himself, around which everything turns, who is heaven’s bright sun, whose radiance glows brighter than the brightest star, so much so that the new heavens and the new earth need neither sun nor moon. The splendor of this sight is worth beholding indeed.