Can It Be?

Photo by Kevin Hartnett

Can it be that daily You
Return upon me smiling?
I would hardly look for You
Until the darkness falling
Caused an anxious glance to find
Your face, so reassuring;
Ever watching over me,
Thy grace, my soul securing.

-- K. Hartnett, May 1997

I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips…Like the Moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the sky. (Psalm 89: 34, 37)

The Moon - a Faithful Witness

As surely as the earth spins daily on its axis, our celestial companion, the Moon, appears some time overhead during each 24-hour period.  In the few days of the month we call  “new moon,”  it is located in the sky near the sun and so generally cannot be seen.  The heavenly bodies were expressly given by God to mark out signs, seasons, days and years.  Without them, the very concepts of “day,”  “week,”  “month,” and “year” are meaningless.  It is an interesting fact that our modern days of the week are named after the seven brightest celestial objects.  The earth is unique among the inner planets in its possession of a large moon.  Scientists are now beginning to appreciate more fully its stabilizing effect on the earth’s own orbital motions, and the protection it affords our globe from collision with passing asteroids and comets.  Seeing the moon should cause us to remember the wisdom, kindness, and faithfulness of God.

Let the heavens praise Thy wonders, O Lord, Thy faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! (Psalm 89:5)

In this poem, I’ve used the Moon to illustrate the idea that God is watching over us all the time even when we don’t know it and can’t see Him.  This is the promise He makes to those who love Him- those who have embraced the gracious sacrifice of His own Son as a payment for their sins.  As the teachings of Jesus and His disciples make clear, there is no other way to “get right” with God.  It is amazing that God- too holy to ever tolerate sin in His presence- provides us any way at all to be reconciled with Him! God’s solution for us is provided by His grace, as a gift, not as something we earn.  Jesus freely paid for our sins so that we can go to heaven- otherwise no one can. This is the ultimate meaning of the line in the poem, “Thy grace, my soul securing.” Our part is to believe, receive, and turn from our previous lifestyle to live thankful lives to God.  Jesus taught that there is great rejoicing in heaven when even one sinner repents.  Think of the crescent moon as heaven’s smile on all those who do.