S165P4 – In his hands: all the heavens

Lk. 21:25-28

And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world.  For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

There are many phenomena in the skies which amaze us.  Solar and lunar eclipses bring people outside in the hopes of catching the special events.  From shooting stars to rarely seen comets, there is so much above us outside our understanding, and some of it might frighten us.  The skies can bring upon us weather events that are destructive and deadly.  Even the invisible wind has the strength to strike terror in the bravest of men.  From the heavens which look close enough for us to touch, to the heavens which are immeasurably beyond our reach, the wonders above us are truly magical, but we only can watch this all unfold because it is well beyond our control.

When the scriptures speak of the great and terrible day of the Lord, they seem to be juxtaposing two responses which mirror the passage above.  God will cause the stars and clouds and everything else above us to move as He wills.  When the heavens begin to signal the coming of Christ, those whose souls are not prepared for that day will tremble.  This will be a time of great fear for them.  For those who have been waiting for him and will recognize the signs, they will be ready to see their king.  Instead of perplexity, they will see hope realized.  The redemption of which they have heard for so long will be that much closer.  The heavenly dance ushering in our Jesus will be choreographed perfectly by the One who holds every power of the heavens in his hands.  

There is no heavenly body or heavenly force which does not obey God.  Not one moves or makes a sound without his first allowing it.  He can cause the heavens to rumble or to be still.  He can cause it to be day or night.  He can move the stars and the planets as He desires.  He can keep back the lightning or let it strike.  We say that He is in the heavens, but the heavens cannot be greater than God.  If one is outside the other, it is the God who created the heavens for his glory and to do his will.  From the beginning, He knew the story that He would tell in the skies above to show that his Son is near.  Father, help us to be ready even today for that day to come when the heavens declare the coming of our Lord.