In the Moonlight
I made a big mistake last week. I inadvertently taught my nine-year-old son what it means to “moon” someone. (I know, I know.) For our weekly family movie night, I thought it would be fun to show my kids Grease for the first time. For as much as I’d watched the famous musical as a child, you’d think I’d remember the scene in which the T-Birds moon the television cameras during the Rydell High School dance competition. But alas, I’d forgotten. My son is in the full throttles of boyhood and finds all jokes about bathrooms and bodies hilarious. There was no going back after that. In the hours since I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been subjected to the sight of Justice’s bare backside. Lord Jesus come quickly.
After tucking the kids into bed, (ensuring all body parts were modestly covered), I made my way down the hall and caught a glimpse of the real moon out the stairwell window. I remembered reading about the expected harvest moon in the news, a full moon that gives off extra light during the autumnal equinox this time of year, but it wasn’t until I beheld it myself that I realized how special it was. The moon took on the color of a white sandy beach. Shades of ecru, wheat, and cream all swirled together in a perfectly round orb, casting a distinct but soft glow amid an inky black sky. I stood there on the stairs, mesmerized.
Have you ever walked outside at night with nothing but the moonlight to guide your way? Nature’s flashlight, that’s what it is. It’s remarkable how much light the moon affords us from hundreds of thousands of miles away. But though the moon may light our way, that is not why it exists. Did you know the moon itself is not a source of light? The illumination of the moon is but a reflection of the sun. What a beautiful metaphor God has given us in this way, that like the moon, we exist not to light our own way but to reflect the glory of God.
As believers, the light in us is not our own. Jesus Christ is our source. He is the self-proclaimed Light of the World. (John 8:12). When we live in close communion with Christ, we cannot help but reflect His light onto the world around us. When we allow His words, and not our own, to light our path (Psalm 119:105) His glory shines brightest.
As parents, we teach our kids that their choice of friends is critical. Who they spend their time with greatly influences who they become. How many of us of witnessed this? Our child comes down the stairs with a new hairstyle or fashion choice they copied from a friend. The slang words coming out of their mouth are familiar only because we heard their teammates saying the same ones last week. Their interest in television shows, movies, and apps is ever-changing depending on the peers they’re trying to impress. Who they are is evident by who they’re most influenced by. So it is with us. When we spend our time with Jesus, the world can tell. We speak words of edification, encouragement, peace, and prayer. We carry ourselves with dignity and confidence, certain of our Creator and His love for us. We dress with modesty, knowing man looks at appearance but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Who we are is a reflection of our time spent with the Lord.
Beyond reflecting the sun, the moon holds many other purposes. Were the moon to disappear, we would notice more than just darker skies at night. Our planet’s rotation would destabilize, leading to extreme climate change. Nocturnal animals who rely on the moon to navigate would be thrown off course. The tides, which are used to nautically guide so many, would weaken. In short, the delicate balance needed to sustain life on Earth would be devastatingly disrupted.
The Bible describes the moon as “the faithful witness in the sky” (Psalm 89:37). It is a constant on which people rely. Celebrations of the New Moon were abundant throughout the Old Testament, consistently marking new seasons. A motionless moon, loss of moonlight, and even the absence of the moon altogether, are used to reference the Lord’s wrath and punishment, even the End Times. Darkness and disorder is the result, total omission of God’s light. In the same way, when the light of Christ in us is dulled, or put out even, our balance is thrown off. Everything seems more fragile, more precarious. When we’re no longer reflecting His light, we are plunged into complete blackness. Chaos ensues. We struggle to find our way, no longer able to discern what’s right and wrong. Our reflection of Him is a faithful witness to the world around us, and without it, darkness abounds.
I’ve experienced this imbalance in my own life many times. When I break my routine of spending mornings at His feet and in His word, my day is thrown wildly off course. My outlook is pessimistic; my attitude plunges into negativity, and I’m stressed and easily irritated. All my weaknesses are worn on my sleeve. I listen too much to the voice in my head and the noise of the world. Shame overshadows grace. I feel restless and fragile. I am no longer thriving, only surviving. Everyone around me is affected by this: my children, my husband, my friends. But when I lift my face back to the Light, all is made right again.
The days we stay in communion with God are the days when He is most glorified in us. Our prayers keep chaos at bay. Our Bible reassures us that where Jesus is, darkness cannot be. When we etch the Words of the Lord on our hearts, they will overflow through our mouths (Luke 6:45). When we trust in His truth over the lies of the enemy, nothing can shake us. In Him we have peace. He leads and He guides us along a straight but narrow path. His Words light the way.
The next full moon is October 17th. I encourage you to step outside and look up. Do you see yourself in the moonlight, or do you see the light of Christ? Oh that we could reflect His glory to its fullest in every season, using His light to bring balance and guidance to even our darkest nights.
Give thanks to the Lord who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:7-9