The Sun Stare
“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.”
Hey Sweet Friends,
I have not given up on this blog or my writing dreams. I’m still over here pressing on and praying, but there just hasn’t been a lot of time for writing. Last summer my husband and I started an ethical + organic coffee company(Avanti Coffee Company) to help farmers in Haiti, I took on homeschooling our oldest son, I continue to develop products for Gift of Hope, and direct Haiti Foundation Against Poverty, while also adjusting to life in a new city and country. It’s been enough to keep me busy, but my heart still bubbles up with words wanting to be poured out.
This afternoon I hired someone to play with my children for a few hours so I could write you a small piece of hope that has been burning on me heart. I hope you have a few moments to hear me out.
I love how the sun is a beautiful reminder of God’s faithfulness. In fact, earlier this year I designed a collection of wall hangings for Gift of Hope Haiti around this very premise. It rises and sets in a rhythm we can count on. It fills the sky with a magnificent display of color at the beginning and end of a day. It provides light and warmth. It shines for everyone. The whole world has access to it. The sun hangs in everyone’s sky.
Lately the sun has been on my heart for an entirely different reason.
Did your momma ever tell you not to stare at the sun as a kid? Did you try it anyway? I did, and I cannot recommend it. I give it 0 out of 5 stars. If you tried like me, you were probably seeing stars for a while. Here’s the thing I have been pondering: if we can’t stare at the sun, I’m thinking we won’t be staring at the SON in all His Glory when we meet him face to face.
I was recently reading in Revelation. It’s one of my top five favorite books of the Bible. I studied it in college while I was earning a Bible degree, and I love the glimpse we get to see into our future and the promises we are given to cling to, especially during times of trials and uncertainty. Have you ever flipped to the back page of a novel and spoiled the ending for yourself? Then throughout the book, whenever the characters find themselves in trouble or the plot thickens, you already know they will be fine by the last page so you worry less about their fate as you are reading. That’s Revelation for believers. Thank you, Lord!
My heart recently skipped a beat when I got to chapter 1 verse 17 which reads, “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, ‘Fear not; I am the first and the last.”
John, the author of Revelation, was Jesus’ very good friend when he walked this earth. I find it striking that he did not run up to Jesus and hug him. He didn’t fist bump or high five him. He writes that he “fell at his feet as dead”. Fell. As dead. I have paused to imagine that if the glorified Jesus had that effect on his earthly buddy John, who was used to “hanging out” with Jesus, he will probably have that effect on me too.
Jesus, the creator of the sun, who holds the universe in his hands, is a whole lot brighter and more powerful than the sun in our sky. He has fire in his eyes and glory shining all around him.
“His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire. And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.” (Revelation 1:14-16) *emphasis mine.
I have been thinking about that lately as I gaze at our evening sunsets. I look forward to my promised future with Jesus, and I can’t help but picture him every time I look at the sun, only for a second of course. I envision the fire in his eyes and glory shining around him. Can you picture it? Would you care to join me in pausing to soak it in as you watch the next sunset?
