THE BODY>>ALL OF CREATION
ROM 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Yes, God’s eternal power and divine nature have reached down to the “footstool” of his creation, which we call the Earth. As the Psalmist said, “Where can I flee from your spirit?“ “If I make my bed in hell, you are there!“ This is not a curse, but a blessing! Grace follows us into the darkness of this world to help us. Even in a state of spiritual death and blindness, there are signs of life and visions of truth given by the Creator of all things to set us free. There is a divine pattern that is followed because of God’s “divine nature” impregnating all things. So where in “creation” shall we begin our search?
From the smallest part of an atom to the vastness of the universe, God gives life, and if we look closely, God is seen everywhere. So, whatever man discovers in science, it will always carry God’s fingerprints on it. This is not an accident, but simply the way it is because of the Creator’s character/nature. In spite of what many well-intentioned religious leaders might believe, scientific truths will ALWAYS support God because they have been born of Him. Truth can only give birth to truth though we may not always understand. Mathematics, chemistry, biology, astrology and the like all give us doses of truth- as much as we can bear. It is said that the truth is hard to swallow. How many times have religious minds refused to swallow what science was feeding them? Some would rather starve their minds than accept a scientific truth that might conflict with their religion. As we mature spiritually, we are able to eat and digest all truths no matter where we find them. No longer is there the fear of eating “different meat.” All food for the mind has been made clean to eat.
ROM 14:2 One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.
What Paul says goes far deeper than our earthly diet. We must come to realize that God is not as concerned with what we feed our bodies, but rather what we feed our minds. If we seek for spiritual meaning in all of ordinary life, we will find God’s divine nature and life in all things great and small. So let’s being the feast with a “small” appetizer!
THE ATOM-
The atom is the smallest form of every element and is considered the building block of the universe. While each atom could contain another universe, it really doesn’t MATTER- pun intended! What does “matter” is all of creation including that microscopic atom says I AM from God. You see before the Word was made flesh, the Word was made an atom.
Even this tiny and relatively simple manifestation of God’s Spirit carries that imprint of his very nature- a TRIADIC nature. The Trinity of God’s nature is mostly a mystery to man. This tri-level nature has been translated down all through creation. God’s triadic expressions are wonderfully obvious in many different areas of study if we look closely. This is certainly true of the atom.
All atoms (except hydrogen) consist of three parts- protons, electrons and neutrons. It is even theorized that an even smaller unit called the quark is believed to exist as groups of three as well! Where does it end? I don’t believe it ever does. If we could break the quark down, we may find a whole universe filled with more trinities.
So what is this physical manifestation, this shadow telling us about God? Well, certainly more than I know, but I will offer what I can. The atom’s three parts make it ONE unit just as God is ONE through the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The three parts also seem to provide a kind of stability. Each part of the atom has a role, or purpose to serve for the whole.
In the atom, the virtually invisible electron moves around the neutron and proton that remain at the center. I see that the Holy Spirit of God moves about and around the Father and Son who remain together and at the center of life itself. Neutrons and protons are very similar in every way but the electrical charge. If one could combine the proton and electron, then it would be a neutron. Don’t the Holy Spirit and Son work together to be the Father in every way? I see that the Son is like the proton- an image of the neutron. So then the Father is like the neutron that is unchanging and at peace.
The entire universe is built on the tiny atom and yet, as the Creator would have it, the atom is nearly nothing. In other words 99.999% of every atom is nothing! It should be no surprise that the whole of the universe is the same- empty space. Should we be amazed at this? I am! Isn’t this telling us that our physical world that we are so concerned about is virtually nothing- only a miniscule part the BIG picture? I believe it is. We put so much faith and effort into the things of the physical world when it is mostly nothing. Perhaps we should rethink where we put our faith? And yet, this nearly void world of shadows can tell us about that higher reality where true life resides. How wonderful our God is! After God created the atom, then it was time to make some elements. Let’s consider some of the elements God created. I especially want to investigate those we have labeled “organic.” These little beauties are very special indeed.
HYDROGEN-
The first element on the periodic table is the first element of the universe. While all the elements are God’s elements, this one holds deeper connections to the Source of all life. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. It is the original element from which all other elements were created. For this and many other reasons, hydrogen is God’s element. It is numero uno!
Hydrogen creates other elements by surrendering its life just as God does. Our Sun is the best example of this. The Sun and all stars contain trillions and trillions of hydrogen atoms being sacrificed to make helium and other elements. Two hydrogen atoms join and become one helium atom. This fusion process releases an enormous amount of energy. As our knowledge of the universe expands, we are coming to realize that the smaller the unit, the greater the energy released. Take a pound of coal or even TNT for that matter and compare it to a pound of pure hydrogen being fused. There is no comparison. Within the smallest atom (hydrogen) lies the greatest energy potential.
Also, hydrogen is unique among all of the other elements in that it has no neutron. This is a real mystery to scientists. It simply has one proton and one electron thereby creating neutrality. My understanding is that hydrogen (God’s element) can be thought of as the Creator of this world. As discussed in “The Meaning of Life,” this lowest world is the realm of the Holy Spirit. In the Beginning, the Father empties Himself into the Son who then empties Himself into the Holy Spirit. Then the Holy Spirit is poured out upon the Earth to lead us to Christ. So it would seem that hydrogen without a neutron represents the Holy Spirit without the Father in a strange sense. Of course they are always one, but somehow the lack of a neutron is saying the Father made a sacrifice for creation and man. It is the nature of God to give everything for the purpose of his will. The Father emptied Himself into the Son and it is there were we come to know the Father again.
CARBON-
While there are 90 naturally occurring known elements, carbon is the one man knows the best. Man and all living things are described as “carbon-based” which means that CARBON is the key to all organic life. The carbon atom is unique because it allows many different types of bonds with other elements to create a myriad of materials. It is the “glue” holding all creatures together, but even I was surprised to find out how much man has in common with carbon.
Carbon holds nature together because it has the ability to bond in four directions with other compounds. All life on the earth is based around the carbon atom because of those four points of bonding. Now, consider the human being. Man also has four points where he “bonds” with his environment. We call them hands and feet. We seem to carry the nature of carbon into our very bodies. Do we not reach out to the world with our four limbs and then grab hold, figuratively and literally, to all we desire? Certainly this is an interesting similarity, however the bond between man and carbon goes much deeper than this.
Carbon is number 6 on the periodic table because it contains 6 protons, 6 neutrons and 6 electrons. Guess who else has the label of “number 6?” Of course, we read in the Bible that man was created on the 6th day. Also we read that man’s number is 666. While some believe that this particular number is the “sign of the beast,” they should look a little deeper than a birthmark on the scalp of an individual man. In truth, we have all had this ‘mark‘ because the carnal nature of man is the beast we fight against. Yes, man of the Earth was created on the sixth day. In other words, we came into our natural (lower) state on the sixth day. This “nature” is the nature of the beast and is exactly why we are spiritually evolving. Are you still not convinced that carbon and man are linked like a shadow and it’s reality? There is more.
I find it interesting that pure carbon is found in two forms: graphite and diamond. There is also a “form” of carbon that it is mixed with other organic elements. We call this coal. So carbon, man’s element, exists in three different states. Again, we have the triadic nature expressing itself, but what deeper meaning can be discerned from all of this? If we compare man’s states of spirituality in this world with carbon we find some interesting parallels.
Coal is a mixture of carbon (usually in graphite form) and other organic compounds. I see that coal represents our carnal natures. This idea gains more credence when one considers that coal is very organic, or earthy. Coal is really a collection of DEAD, living things. Does this sound like the state of the natural man DEAD in sin? Yes, we find ourselves “living” in this earthly state and yet “dead” in our sin. So it seems natural man has more in common with coal than would first appear. Of course coal burns very well, and so will our carnal nature in the lake of fire, right? So then coal represents us in a natural state, using a carnal mind and living like a beast. In this state we are far from God and enemies of God. We are not pure, but a mixture of worldly things and desires. However, in pure form, carbon is either diamond or graphite- both very useful, but both very different.
Graphite is the most common form of pure carbon. It is not used for fueling fires, but rather as tools for man. Graphite has wonderful uses like a pencil lead, a lubricant and even as a bonding agent for strong polymers. Just as graphite is a tool of man, many souls of this world can become instruments, or tools of God. Graphite is a soft substance just as the servants of God are humble. Graphite prevents friction just as the children of God are peacemakers. Graphite can be strong just as the prophets hold fast to their faith. Graphite is a pure form of carbon and certainly a useful tool, but take that same soft, slippery substance, add some heat and pressure and you will get something much greater- the DIAMOND!
HEB 5:7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
Jesus was made perfect through obedience and suffering. Oh yes, there is no doubt that Jesus was God’s diamond! Jesus is the Rock! Jesus is the Cornerstone. Jesus is that Stone that crushes all others in the world!
MT 21:44 “He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."
Jesus was born a natural man seeking God (graphite). Even so, this man chosen by God went through great sorrows and was under great pressure because of the great love he had for God and us. He felt the fire of God burning within his soul, and he desired to start our flame burning. In time, Jesus was transformed from servant to Son in the same way graphite becomes diamond. Like graphite, diamond is pure carbon, but it is dramatically different.
Diamond is not soft, but rather it is the hardest known substance in the universe! That is saying a lot! Diamond is not opaque, but usually transparent for light to pass through it. It creates a spectacular display of dazzling light when cut correctly. Jesus Christ, God’s perfect gem, gave his disciples a peek of his light during the transfiguration. They were in awe at the brilliance of God’s diamond who is the greater than any other! Jesus is first gem of God’s crown who shines the light of Christ!
NITROGEN-
The atomic number of nitrogen is 7. This of course is the day when God rested, and apparently is also the day when man went to work. Man began to grow in knowledge. As it turns out, nitrogen and growth have a direct relationship. All gardeners know that nitrogen is necessary for plants to grow. What you might not know is that this is true of our bodies as well. Nitrogen is used to make amino acids that are used to make proteins that are used to make flesh. So you see, humans and plants are not so far apart. I like to think of nitrogen as the shadow of the power of the Holy Spirit. Our LORD God (Christ, Son) may have rested on the 7th day, but not his “Helper.” The Holy Spirit gives life to all things in our world and causes them to grow. The Holy Spirit also aids our spiritual growth- leading us to Christ.
The word “spirit” in Hebrew is ruach or “neshamah” that means “breath” or “air” among other translations. Interestingly, most of what we breathe in is plain, old nitrogen! In fact, about two thirds of the air we rely on for life is nitrogen. Plants certainly can take advantage of this nitrogen rich air and suck it in, but we, humans have come to rely on the next organic element for our life- oxygen.
OXYGEN-
Oxygen is another one of those “organic” elements because all living things have it. In fact, our bodies are made up of about two thirds oxygen. Oxygen is number eight on the periodic table. I believe this is significant because “8” is considered a number of perfection. The 8th day is the Day of the Lord in which man reaches perfection and God’s kingdom has come.
Oxygen is also closely tied to all life. Oxygen is needed for things to burn. We “burn” our food by taking in oxygen into our lungs. We read in the Bible that our God is a Consuming Fire. We had better watch out for our skin since our bodies are mostly O2! Yes, watch our carnal nature go up in smoke just as God desires it to be!
Eight being the number of perfection, it occurs to me that oxygen represents the final step in our evolution in this world. Plants breathe in CO2 from the air and have little need for the oxygen, so they release it. We on the other hand want the pure oxygen from the air. We no longer need the carbon (carnal nature) that the plants rely on, but now in the 8th day we seek to breathe a higher form of air so God’s fire can burn in us. Oxygen is the last of the organic elements. This is our last step in our evolutionary process here on our Earth. Our need and use of oxygen means we are closing in on perfection.
WATER-
2 PET 3:5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.
Water is the miracle compound of all creation. Take an oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms, and call me in the morning! No, I mean, you have water! We have seen that hydrogen is God’s element and oxygen is the element of life, breath, fire and perfection. These two elements join to give life to all living things of our world. We take for granted all that water can do and the life it supports. Water is of course H2O (HOH), which means it has two hydrogen atoms joined with one oxygen atom. This is like saying man’s perfection and life relies on being bonded with Son and the Holy Spirit.
Water is about as gentle and stable of a compound you will find in the universe. Its very stable bond supports all life and has some very unique characteristics. Many of these qualities are discussed in “God and Water- The Givers of Life,” but let me attempt to expound on some of those ideas there.
While most elements and compounds can theoretically exist in the THREE different forms of matter (gas, liquid and solid), only one does! Water is the ONLY substance, or compound that exist naturally in all three forms here on the Earth. It is moisture in the air. It is water filling the oceans. It is ice covering the poles. If one takes the time to contemplate on this, they will begin to see why water is so remarkable. Water is so closely tied to all life that it really IS life. There is no wonder why the ancient wisdom of the prophets tied God and water together.
These three forms of water represent the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father is represented by water vapor- the highest form of water. I now see that the Son is represented by water in liquid form. Christ is the living water. The Holy Spirit creates the foundation for life, so it is the solid form of water- ice.
In the article God and Water- The Givers of Life, I wrote that the Holy Spirit was related to water and the Son was to ice. At that time, I thought this because I was considering the man Jesus. Jesus is the Word (Christ/Son) made flesh. Since ice has solid form, I thought this represented the Son of God when really it represents the flesh. Seeing more clearly now, I understand that Christ is represented by water and the Holy Spirit is represented by ice. When the Word came into this world of the Holy Spirit, he became flesh- a solid form like ice. It was by the power of the Holy Spirit that Christ is born in all of us because this world is where the Holy Spirit works the will of the Son who is working the will of the Father. So again, the lowest form of water represents the Holy Spirit who is our helper in the lowest form of existence.
In addition to shadowing the Trinity of God, water can also represent our spiritual development. First we are like ice- frozen by fear, sin and death. Our hearts are cold having little or no life. Then, by the power of the God’s love (Sun), we are melted, transformed into water that is able to flow and give life. Finally we become vapor and are lifted from this world. We become what Jesus is. We become a free, life-giving spirit!
THE TRIADS-
As mentioned earlier, all matter (known to us) in the universe exists in one of three states, but water is possibly the best example of God’s triadic life expressing itself in our world. However, let me share just a few more to further substantiate my position.
Three different “aspects” describe the universe: space, matter and time. Time and space provide the fabric for matter to exist. While I am convinced that all three of these are also shadows, I have no earthly idea what kind of reality they might represent- perhaps I will in another article! As it turns out, these THREE ways our universe is known are also based on other triads!
Of course, matter is defined as a vapor, liquid or solid. Space is known by three planes- X, Y, and Z. Then there is time that is contained in the past, present or the future. Now do you believe that God’s triadic, triple-action nature permeates everything? Stop for a minute to consider motion. It is classified as rotational, vibrational or translational. All three are energy, but have different purposes just as the Holy Trinity does. All of this simply points to our Creator who is expressed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Just as God is endless, so are the ways and relationships in which He has expressed Himself. For much deeper and detailed introspective into the interconnected hierarchy of life, I recommend a site called “The Upper Triad Society.” There they systematically and logically describe the meaning and purpose of these ordinary lives we live. There you will also find more triads than you ever could imagine!
FORCES AND DUALITY-
Beyond the triadic expressions of God, there is also a kind of duality, or balance that exists. In our universe we have forces acting upon us all the time, most of which are unseen. The only way to come to “rest” is to have no forces or equal forces thus duality is born. In nature we there is magnetism having negative and positive charge. In our spiritual life we have the forces of “good and evil,” but how we decide which is which can be much harder than discerning black and white.
We know duality because we are not at “rest,” but rather on a spiritual trip in the realm of consciousness. After that point when God separated the “light from the darkness” we began to use duality to know our world. It is for us to decide what is right and wrong through experience. We cannot be told what the truth is, but we must come to know it just as we know ourselves. Let us always remember then that our choices determine our path and our actions cause the effects that are rendered. During our journey from the relative darkness of this world, we do well to look for the Light.
GEN 1:3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
LIGHT-
God spoke and there was Light. Or we could say, God expressed himself and he was Christ. As we know, Christ is the power behind all things, so it makes sense that light is too! Light powers everything! Life on the Earth is supported by two means: water and light. Both are shadows of God’s life, and this is exactly what they are to us- life. When most think of light, they are thinking of what the visible light provided by the Sun each day, but light actually includes the whole electromagnetic spectrum. This ranges from radio waves that have the least amount of energy to gamma rays that have the highest level of energy.
You may have been taught about light’s unique dual quality in science class. Light has a duality that no other type of energy has. Light photons can act like a wave in the ocean or like bullets from a gun. As it turns out, the lower energy photons like radio waves tend to act more like a wave. Like sound waves, radio (lower energy light) waves move through a medium like air and can actually “bend” around objects. Unlike sound waves, radio waves can travel without any medium, which means they can travel in the void of space. Well, it is my understanding that Christ is the LIGHT of the world and every man, woman and child. So what does this characteristic of light in the natural telling us about Christ’s spiritual nature?
I believe it tells us that no only can Christ reach us in this earthly medium, but also can take us through the void to the Father. Christ (Light) reaches us where we are. To do this Christ (Light) must act like a wave that can move through our lower world. If light could not act as a wave, then our carnal minds could block Christ from reaching us. As it is though, Christ can go around obstacles to reach us! As our Light increases, Christ in us begins to take on a higher more mature nature. Then just as high-energy photons can travel through the void of space, Christ can travel without the lower mediums of matter, space and time found in this world. As high-energy light, we can transcend the lower world!
Yes, we are the Light of the world, but thank God that our Light (Christ) has the ability to operate in this lowest realm of God’s creation. Remember this is God’s footstool- the world of the Holy Spirit. When we are ready, Christ comes down from heaven like sunlight to give us life. Christ is the bridge between this world and God, the Father. Because of this, it is necessary for Christ to have the dual nature that we see shadowed by light. There’s an irony for you! Light is the shadow of Christ! As powerful as the Sun is, it is only a shadow of the Son’s glory. As much as we rely on the Sun for what we call life, we rely so much more on Christ to find our true life. If we have a true life, then we must also have a false life, right? Welcome the world of opposing forces.
DUALITY-
Duality in nature represents a desire for balance just as many souls seek peace. The motion was started in that moment called “The Beginning” or “Big Bang,” and it can only stop when all the forces have balanced. Duality exists, not because of man, but for man. As examined in The Meaning of Life, duality exists for the sake of consciousness to grow. To know, we must first experience. To experience, we must first have choice. To have choice, we must first have duality. For this reason, God (who is One) separated heaven and earth, light and darkness, right and wrong so that we could use consciousness to realize who we are. First a path is created, and then one must walk it to know it.
E=MC2-
Well, I am no Einstein, not even a physicist, but I believe there is spiritual wisdom hidden in this natural law. Let’s consider the divine equation revealed to Einstein: E=MC2. Why divine? As mentioned before, it is because all truths support The Truth. All the truths from math, science, chemistry, etc exist because they shadow a higher Truth.
So back to E=MC2 where E is energy, M is mass, and C is the speed of light in a vacuum. One thing we know from this equation is that energy and mass are directly related. In fact, one could really think of all matter as condensed light! Hard to even imagine how much light is stored in our small, frail bodies. Converting this natural equation into a spiritual one is difficult, but here is my understanding.
It seems clear that C (speed of Light and a constant) is the shadow of God’s glory, power and will because they are both constants. Some “science sticklers” may bring up the point that the speed of light is not constant except in the vacuum of space and is slower in other mediums. Well, I think this fact also relates to a spiritual truth. If the speed of light {C} is the shadow of God’s will or power then let’s consider if it is the same at every level of existence. It seems clear that God’s will is not always done here on Earth. On the other hand, God’s will before time and space in the void was done at that moment called “here and now.” In that moment God’s will or power is constant and there is nothing greater. This is like the speed of light. In the void, the speed of light {C} is a constant. Like God’s will and power, “C” only becomes lessened, in a sense, in lower mediums like our world. So now, back to the equation at hand.
I believe that E (energy) is a shadow of our consciousness, or spiritual energy if you like. Our spiritual energy is our “light” that Jesus said we should not keep hidden. I think then M (mass) represents our faith in God. Faith is the substance of our spiritual life like mass is the substance of all things. Things exist in this world because they have mass. God exists in our consciousness because we have faith. Faith has spiritual weight like mass has weight. So, the equation for this is spiritual law then would be as follows:
Consciousness of God {C} = Faith in God {F} x Power of God2 {P2} or C=FP2.
Let’s consider this spiritual theory. The first question that might arise is why P2? Well, again in this world we have the Holy Spirit and the Son helping us to the Father, so this would be P x P or P2. The power of God {P} “squared” sounds a bit absurd, but man cannot even fathom a single P. Can you imagine God’s power? Wouldn’t trying to grasp God’s power {P} be like counting to infinity? If we can agree that God has power that cannot be measured, why then would it be any different for P x P? See my point? So let’s test this theory as best we can.
When our Consciousness of God {C} increases then does our Faith {F}, or closeness to God also increases? Yes, I believe this true. Our awareness of God is directly proportional to our faith and closeness to God.
JAS 4:7 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.
As our faith grows, we grow closer to God and our understanding and knowledge of him and life increases. Einstein was certainly no dummy! What he discovered in the natural has its meaning in the spiritual just as every shadow has its higher reality. Perhaps in “heaven” we will have P3- the power of Father, Son and Holy Spirit available to our consciousness! We can’t even imagine! Talk about being able to fly high! Until they then though, it seems we are to remain a bit “grounded” by the earthly forces that be.
GRAVITY-
1COR 13:13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Gravity may be my favorite force of nature. Why? This is because without a doubt it represents God’s love. As Paul alludes to, love is the greatest “force” in the spiritual universe! Gravity, like God’s love, is a complete mystification. Man cannot explain the force of gravity, but simply labels it a “law” that just is the way it is. We have no earthly idea why objects attract one another, but without gravity (and certainly God's love), life as we know it could not exist.
If one examines the law of gravity closely and then looks up to find the higher law or force it represents, we must come to the conclusion that God’s love is the spiritual form of gravity. They seem to parallel each other in every way imaginable. Like God, gravity is ever present, ever active, ever lasting. It doesn’t run out, run down and it is everywhere there is mass. The greater that mass of an object is the greater is the force of gravity. Again, spiritual mass would represent our faith or nearness to God. The closer we get to God, the stronger our love (spiritual gravity) becomes. This is the higher law of Love.
GAL 5:14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
It is written that God is love, and any that love are born of God. What a profound mystery that Love has created. It seems clear that the will of gravity and the will of God are the same- to be ONE. Both are constant, unyielding and dominating in their kingdoms. Gravity and God’s love affects all things at all times. It is unwavering no matter the circumstances. What is really interesting is what happens when gravity is taken to extreme limits.
The notion of “black holes” was at first mere speculation. Then later they became theoretical, but today they are all but accepted as fact. The black hole is all about extreme gravity. It is a sinkhole for all mass and energy- even light. The force of gravity becomes so strong that it overpowers all other forces of the universe! Now, that sounds like God’s love! It seems that within a black hole, the laws of physics are superseded by a higher order of “laws” just as Christ supersedes the Law of Moses.
As discussed in the article The Meaning of Life, matter and consciousness are inversely related in that as matter decreases in the universe, overall consciousness increases. So in the black hole, matter is taken from this world and consciousness is given into the spiritual realm. Again recall the spiritual equation of consciousness:
Consciousness {C} = Faith in God {F} x Power of God2 {P2}
As our faith grows, our consciousness (or awareness) of God’s will also increases. This is the same relationship we see with gravity within the black hole. The black hole is drawing all things together just as God is drawing us all back so that God is all in all. The closer the mass becomes the greater the force of gravity. God’s love increases as we come together as well. We are called to love our neighbor as our self, but do we realize why? It is because we are all part of the Body of Christ. As we come together because of the overpowering force of God’s love, we become ONE body! And like the mass transformed in the black hole, we are also transformed into a higher state of being in Christ!
What I also find interesting is a black hole is likely formed when a large star goes super nova. In other words, once a star has surrendered a critical amount of mass through the process of fusion, it then explodes and collapses upon itself. It gives all that it can, and then it begins to take EVERYTHING back! This is the nature of God and the “Cycle of Life,” which was discussed in The Meaning of Life. If all has come from God and all is returning to God, then love is the gravity making this possible.
CELESITAL BODIES-
Some might suspect that by celestial bodies, I am going to delve into astrology. Not exactly. While being an Aquarius, I am certainly prone to such “free-spirited” philosophies, but I will save that for another time. Yes, I do believe there is merit in believing the stars, the moon and all the planets have some kind of affect on us. However, I know next to nothing about the subject, so I will keep this discussion in the genre of my field- science.
Within our universe there are billions of galaxies within each of these are billions of stars. Surrounding these stars are likely billions of planets that are orbited by billions of moons. A deep consideration of the expansiveness of the universe can make any head spin. Contemplating the minuteness the Earth in this supreme scheme could take one into a kind of despair. One might say, “Where is the hope?” Yes, thinking in spatial terms, one certainly would conclude that the Earth and all that exist on it are insignificant, but as they say, “size doesn’t matter.”
We live in the world where time and space are the fabric of the universe. Yet, would our lives be any less important if we all lived on a tiny atom instead of a blue planet? Could we imagine that within each atom in yet another universe with unrealized life? So whether we are examining our world through an electron microscope or a high-powered telescope, we only need to remember that that pattern God set into motion is the same. Life is life no matter how small or great we think it is. Even in the smallest creation, God’s fullness must exist, or God isn’t God.
So then, mankind finds itself here on planet Earth orbiting the star called the Sun within the Milky Way Galaxy. We have discovered nine known planets in our solar system. There has been much speculation about a “Planet X,” which would make ten planets orbiting the Sun. I tend to believe this may be correct because “10” seems to have significance in the way of our world. Mankind has chosen to use a base ten system for mathematics. God’s commandments came to us as ten laws. The Jewish tabernacle had 10 curtains just as the west end of the courtyard had ten posts and ten bases. Ten seems to be man’s base system, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they do, in fact, discover a 10th planet. Until then, let’s consider those celestial bodies closer to home.
THE SUN-
REV 1:16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
What could the Sun possibly represent? This should be a “no-brainer” as they say! The Sun is energy, and the SON is LIFE! The Sun gives out visible light, and the SON gives out SPIRITUAL LIGHT! Just as all the stars (suns) give out their energy freely, so too do the sons of God give out life! They sacrifice themselves for the sake of all that are around them. It is interesting that our Sun uses the hydrogen atom (God’s element) to create its energy. The simplest and smallest of all atoms produces such enormous amounts of energy.
While stars may appear to burn themselves out, their energy is never gone. Energy is never lost, but only transformed, or transferred into other forms. Isn’t this the case with God’s Spirit? The only “thing” God can give is Himself. So ask yourself, can God lose that very spirit he has given to us? Certainly not! This is why all will be saved! All that God is has been entrusted to the Son. In turn, Christ empties himself into humanity and creation knowing that he will rise again through us. So Christ is the spiritual Sun of our life. Like the Sun, Christ is at the center of our life giving life to His Kingdom. He is the constant and unchanging one who never fails to rise and shine His Light on us in darkness.
THE MOON-
ISA 30:26 The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days when the LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.
The moon is an interesting body within our celestial system. Many understand that the moon represents (shadows) the Church, or Body of Christ. This point is established fairly clearly in the Bible. In the above passage, the moon (Body of Christ) will shine like the sun (Christ)! What a wonderful day that will be! Like Jesus said, “Let your whole body be full of light!“ So what about the moon? How does it shadow the Church?
The similarities and parallel relationships are amazing. First, we have the aspect of light. The moon does not produce it’s own visible light, but simply reflects the Sun’s light. This is also true of the Church, which reflects Christ’s glory. The moon is the “lesser light” for the night sky, which is to say the Church is the light of the (dark) world.
We are called to be “IN the world, not OF the world.” In other words, the Church is to realize we can live as part of the world, but we are not from this world. This is also true of the moon. The moon is separated from the Earth, yet it still affects the Earth in ways most don’t realize. It is likely that no life would exist if the moon were not in place. Most know that it is the gravitational pull of the moon that creates tides. Again, gravity relates to God’s love. The Church (Ecclesia in Greek) loves the world, but stays separated from it for the sake of all. Without the moon’s presence, the Earth would not be stable enough to support life. Again, isn’t this true of humanity and the Church? What would the world be like without those followers of Christ? What life or love would be present without followers of Christ? It should be obvious that the moon represents the shadow of those called out from the world- the Ecclesia.
Here is something even more interesting! It is believed that the moon was created when a foreign planet crashed into the Earth more than 4 billion years ago. Rocks tested from the moon support this theory, which again sends home the message that we are in this world, but not part of it. Truth seekers will come to realize that while we may find ourselves in this world, we are not from this world. In fact, it is certainly possible that the MOON brought life to this planet 4 billion years ago! So as Jesus realized, so must we all- we are not from this world! We have also come from above just as the moon is above the Earth. Just as the moon came to the Earth, so did our spirit come to this world!
Another connection of the moon with the Church is the cycle. The Church is also called the Bride of Christ. For this reason, we can be thought of as female in relation to Christ, the Bridegroom. The moon’s cycle of light is nearly identical to that of every woman. Every 28 days the moon begins a new cycle of light just as a woman begins a new cycle of life. More about the moon and the New Moon Festival will be examined later in the topic of “Worshiping a God.”
THE EARTH-
ISA 45:12 It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it.
And then there is our Mother Earth. The Earth is the representation, or shadow of mankind in our natural state. We can think of it as our shadow because we are rising above it. Like the Earth, mankind’s purpose is to bring forth life. The Earth has brought forth natural life and mankind will bring forth Christ’s life. The Sun gives all life to the Earth just as Christ gives all life to humanity. In fact, if you look at the “life” on the Earth it is directly dependant on two factors- light from the sun and water from the heavens. Those areas on the Earth that get abundant light and water have abundant life. Some areas have “seasons” where life flourishes for a period, but then goes dormant. This is all true of man’s spiritual life too! Spiritual winters occur in our lives when we are lacking the light and heat of the Son. Sometimes these seasons are necessary for our development. They strengthen us. So we see that the Earth certainly does shadow man’s life in many ways. The Earth was created for mankind just as mankind was created for Christ. There is a process of evolution taking place. As preached by Paul, first the natural then the spiritual.
1 COR 15:49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.
The relationship of Earth and man is also seen in the Bible. The Earth was flooded with water just as humanity will be completely baptized with God’s Spirit. The Earth will be destroyed by fire just as the fire of God’s love will consume our carnal natures. Our earthly nature has served its purpose and it is time to take on a new “likeness.” There comes the time for every child to leave its mother. Our “mother” is the Earth.