STARS

Suja Samson, Dibba.

 

                                     Twinkle, twinkle little star…

                                     …Like a diamond in the sky.

 

The famous English poetess, Jane Taylor, conveyed a child’s expression of seeing a shining star through the above rhyme. Today becoming a film star or at least a reality show star is the new trend among the young generation. We need not become a worldly star but the Bible says “….you shine like stars in the universe.”(Philippians 2:15).

 Let us discuss about some stars.

 

1. Twinkling Stars: Twinkling of stars is due to the scattering of light through the different layers of the turbulent atmosphere. Likewise, a believer has to go through many trials and temptations. Yet his light in Christ should reflect out.

 e.g.: God testified that Job was a perfect and upright man. But Job had to face many dreadful sufferings under the hands of Satan. Though his wife and friends asked him to rebuke God, his patience vindicated God and proved Satan to be a false accuser and liar. Infact, his refuge and faith in God shone brightly as a star.

    2 Corinth 3:18—And we who with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory….

                               with ever increasing glory.

 

2. Colourful Stars: The brightness and color depends directly on their temperature. When the temp. goes high, its color changes from red to yellow, green, white and finally blue. Similarly, a God’s child should work for Christ even in the midst of problems. (1Peter 4: 10 & 14). The more sufferings, the more brightness we will have. Paul is an example.

The chains and tribulations were a regular part of his life. Moreover, on his voyage to Rome, he had to face shipwreck due to heavy winds and was bitten by a poisonous snake, viper on the island of Malta. Yet God was with him and refined him with sparkling colors.

     Romans 5: 3&4 -- ……rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering

                             produces perseverance;  perseverance, character and character, hope.

The more brightness awaits the greatest reward.

 

3. Far & Near Stars: The brightness is also inversely proportional to the distance. If a star is very far from us, it looks small and dim and vice versa. The same thing happens in a believer too. e.g.: Genesis12:1-9:- Abraham was in close communion with God .He took decisions as God had insisted, thus received blessings from God and became a bright star. But Genesis12:10-20:- As a result of going to Egypt, taking his own decisions and keeping away from God, he had to tell the Pharaoh that Sarah was his sister and hence suffered the after effects. From Egypt, he got Hagar, the maidservant and  through her, Ishmael who was hostile to all his  brothers, was born. Thus Abraham’s brightness faded.

 

4. Shooting Stars (Meteors): These are not the stars but they are heavenly bodies falling after disintegration. Some of them are not completely destroyed in the atmosphere. The big parts fall on the earth is dangerous too. They are just like ‘False Prophets’.

    Mathew7:15—They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious  

                             wolves. By their fruit, you will recognize them.                      

 

They were also called as: ‘False Teachers’ (2Peter2:1); ‘Antichrists’ (1John2:17); ‘Dogs, those men who do evil, mutilators of the flesh’ (Philippians3:2; 2Corin11:13);

‘Hypocrites’(Mathew6:5) etc. eg: Hymenaeus & Philetus (2 Timothy2:17,18) “…wandered away from the truth.” The outcome for those is 2Peter 2:17:-Blackest darkness is reserved for them.    

   

5. Black Dwarfs (Black holes): These are stars but have no light. When the temperature of the star goes down, it appears as black spots so that it can neither emit nor reflect light.

Moreover, any object (whatever be the size) approaching to it is attracted and swallowed.   

 

    Jude vs13: ‘…wandering stars for whom blackest darkness has been reserved for ever.’

e.g.: Judas Iscariot was such a star. He knew Jesus once but betrayed Him to the Jews for

30 silver coins and hanged himself.

    Mathew 8:36:- What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

 

To sum up, though once we were in darkness, now we are the light in the Lord. So a God’s child as a “star” should:

                                Twinkle even in troubles

                                Be colourful in fiery trials

                                Keep in touch with Him always

                                Shine until the last breath. 

 

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