Pastor's Corner

11 Jan
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Mid-Week Challenge

“Once in a lifetime” events are, well, once in a lifetime.  It’s not too often that our generation gets to be part of several of these that might cause other generations to be envious. August 2017 brought the first total solar eclipse exclusive to the U.S. since before the nation’s founding in 1776.  The next time a total solar eclipse will traverse from coast to coast will be in 2045.  We (Middle TN) are lucky enough to have another total solar eclipse in our neighborhood next year.  How often is a total solar eclipse visible from any given location, such as the town where you live?  About once every 375 years, on average.  

Tomorrow night we have a chance to see another “once in a lifetime,” the comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will be in our night sky.  If the clouds hold off, it will only be visible for a short time before continuing on an orbital path that will take it to the outer reaches of our solar system. C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is known as a long-period comet. According to Space.com, C/2022 E3 (ZTF) only visits the inner solar system roughly once every 50,000 years, making tomorrow night’s opportunity to spot it with the naked eye an incredibly rare opportunity. The last time C/2022 E3 (ZTF) appeared in the night sky our planet was locked in a global ice age! 

Why do I bring this up? It reminds me of how small we are in the grand scheme of things, but how blessed we are to have knowledge of such things! Think about it for a moment.  David thought about such things and draws our attention to do the same: Psalm 8:3-4 When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place— what is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him?

We can track the movement of the heavens back to over 50,000 years because we have a Creator of order.  He has revealed Himself to us through Creation (Romans 1).  But He doesn’t leave us there, He allows us to discover these things and be in awe and wonder of Him! Why would He concern Himself with us by placing with in us the ability to discern these things?  Because He gives us a freewill, but He wants us to notice Him in His majesty.  He actually wants a real relationship with us.  When we first see Adam and Eve, it was God’s daily habit to walk with them in the Garden.  Even after the Fall, God continued to include us in His plan.  

These celestial events are reminders of our place in the universe, and at the same time our place with the Creator of it all!  What a humbling exercise it is to look into the night sky and realize this truth!  

Tomorrow evening, take some time to look up and realize how much God cares about you!   

https://www.space.com/comet-c2022-e3-ztf-closest-to-sun-thursday-jan-12-2023

https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/new-comet-might-get-bright-enough-for-binoculars/#:~:text=Comet%202022%20E3%20ZTF%20will%20be%20at%20perihelion%2C,15%2C%202023%2C%20around%205%3A00%20a.m.%20CT%2C%20facing%20east.

What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:4

Serving the Savior,

Bro. Jonathan

By: Dr. Jonathan Richerson

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