Today, I saw the above picture and realized that I have never seen a picture of the earth with the moon in the foreground. This change in perspective made me consider the contrast between the lifeless moon and the inhabited earth. Sometimes, you just need to look at things from a different perspective to understand something more completely.
Then, there is the following passage from the Gospel of Matthew…
Matthew 17 ( World English Bible )
1 After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves.
2 He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.
3 Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.
4 Peter answered, and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”
6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid.
Frankly, I would have fallen on my face as well. The change in Jesus’ appearance and a voice from a cloud telling me Jesus was “my beloved Son” along with the command that I should “...Listen to him.” Who wouldn’t be afraid?
Yet, today, when someone mentions Jesus, often they are met with opposition and ridicule. We live among a “me” generation. Respect, civility and submitting to any sort of authority (especially heavenly) is just not the thing to do. Hate and bigotry abound.
Jesus is not just a great teacher, a great example, a great thinker – he is declared to be the son-of-God. To dismiss him outright or just not bother to listen to him is a very dangerous thing to do. I wonder, how do you look at Jesus? Think long and hard before you answer, because your eternal life depends upon it!