Once again, I have seen something completely new to me: An Aurora Vortex. This is both fascinating and utterly mesmerizing to me. I suppose that it is possible that the above picture is a “photo-shopped” manipulation, but that seems unlikely, due to the bottom being in focus (and a fish-eye lens would vortex everything).
Beyond the uniqueness of the image, a thought came to my mind: Has anything like this every occurred before? As I pondered this, I remembered an incident that occurred in chapel at Northeast School of Biblical Studies in 1978. The dean of the school, Larry Deason, was scheduled to speak during chapel services and had completely forgotten about it. Once his scheduling was confirmed, he stood up to present a lesson. There he was, unprepared, surprised, but eager to preach. He spoke for at least a half an hour from the book of Ecclesiastes and his topic was a phrase “under the sun”. It was on that day, that I gained a new respect for his abilities and realized that he deserved every bit of praise I could muster.
So, today, I did a simple search of the book of Ecclesiastes for “under the sun” and here is result….
Ecclesiastes 1 ( World English Bible )
3 What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?
9 That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Ecclesiastes 2 ( WEB )
11 Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
17 So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
18 I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
19 Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
20 Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun.
22 For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun?
16 Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.
Ecclesiastes 4 ( WEB )
1 Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
3 Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.
13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.
18 Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion.
Ecclesiastes 6 ( WEB )
1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on men:
12 For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?
9 All this have I seen, and applied my mind to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has power over another to his hurt.
15 Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be joyful: for that will accompany him in his labor all the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.
17 then I saw all the work of God, that man can’t find out the work that is done under the sun, because however much a man labors to seek it out, yet he won’t find it. Yes even though a wise man thinks he can comprehend it, he won’t be able to find it.
Ecclesiastes 9 ( WEB )
3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yes also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy has perished long ago; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.
9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity: for that is your portion in life, and in your labor in which you labor under the sun.
11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.
13 I have also seen wisdom under the sun in this way, and it seemed great to me.
Ecclesiastes 10 ( WEB )
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
Solomon was a great king of Israel; perhaps even greater than his father, David. He was very wise, with an intellect and insight that truly was amazing. Yet, with all these blessings ( from God, of course ), he chose his wives poorly and ultimately failed God to follow faithfully. How sad, for someone with so much wisdom!
As I think of that Aurora Vortex a the top of the post, I know that it has happened before, because, indeed there is genuinely nothing new under the sun. Beyond this, I should realize that my goal in life is not limited to just finding something new and appealing, but rather learning from the world around me and applying the Scriptures to it in everything I encounter. Going farther… I should apply God’s word to all my thoughts, actions and insights. Why? Because God has never, ever let me down and that is an unchangeable fact that I hope will continue until I reach heaven. Hope to see you there!