All day long we had been working in the Nielson Renewal Wing, a class of preachers in preparation. We had listened to sermons, analyzed illustrations, discussed techniques of communication, all with a view to proclaiming God’s Word with effectiveness and integrity.

I was seated facing the front of the building, and as the sky began to darken, I could see a light starting to peak through the trees on the other side of the parking lot. At first I wasn’t sure what it could be. I was distracted, of course. I was the instructor and I couldn’t give my attention to the immerging light.

The next time I looked, I realized I was seeing the moon. Dusk was claiming the light of day while the moon rose behind the trees. It seemed an unusual vista, peering at the moon through the trees directly in front of me. By the time the class was finished, the light had indeed faded from the sky and the moon was plainly visible above the trees. Still low on the horizon, the moon was uncommonly large, the details on its surface surprisingly clear. It was a glorious sight. The crisp, clear, cold night; the bright moon against the deep background of the night sky. Winter was in the air.

I had to drive home carefully for I found my eyes continually drawn to the moon. It was so large, so clear. It dominated the sky. It was hard to take my eyes away. I thought of the passage we had been discussing near the end of class . . . Hebrews 12 . . . fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. The moon was drawing my eyes to it. Jesus draws my eyes as well. Things are stable, secure when my eyes are on Jesus.

A twist in the road took the moon from my sight, but turning into my driveway, I saw the moon again. Now it was different. There was a shadow over the moon. A piece was missing. Before long the entire moon disappeared from the sky. I wasn’t worried in the least. Whether I could see the moon or not, I wasn’t tempted to think that the moon was not there. I knew the eclipse was coming. I knew there would be a time when I couldn’t see the moon. I was prepared. I wasn’t worried. The moon was there even if I couldn’t see it. I knew I would be able to see it again.

There are times when I can’t see Jesus, either. Not to worry. He hasn’t moved, and He’s going nowhere.

Dan Whitney