And the fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were smitten, in order that a third of them might be darkened, and that a third of the day might not shine, nor a third of the night likewise. Rev. 8:12.
Today's text speaks about a partial darkness, one that affects some people more than others and some parts of the day more than others. It is a good description of life as we experience it. The darkness of sin touches some people more than others.
A humorous story tells about two famous people. Jack Nicklaus was one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. Stevie Wonder is a popular singer distinguished by the fact that he is totally blind. the two of them supposedly got together one day, and it astounded Nicklaus to hear that Wonder was an avid golfer too.
"How can you possibly play golf when you're blind?" Nicklaus queried.
"Oh, it's not too hard, really, " Stevie Wonder said. "When I tee up my ball, I have my caddie walk out the distance I usually drive and call to me from the center of the fairway. Then I hit the ball in his direction, and he calls me from where it lands. I walk over to the ball and then he moves further out in the direction I need to hit until he is standing in the center of the green. He tells me how far it is to traps and water hazards, and I hit the ball accordingly."
"That's amazing!" Nicklaus said. "But tell me something--how do you ever manage to putt?"
"Oh, that's the easy part for me. The caddie describes the tilt and speed of the green and then lies on his stomach, talking to me from right behind the hole. I just hit the ball to his voice. In fact, I think I could beat you if we played together."
"You're incredible. But there is no way you could beat me."
"Actually, I think I could," Wonder replied. "Why don't we play a round today?"
"I'm free," Nicklaus answered. "What time shall we get together?"
"How about 10:00 tonight?"
If you know anything about golf, you had a good laugh at that one. Golf is not a game most people would try at night. A teacher of mine loved to say, "In the land of the blind, one eye is king!" Well, in the darkness of night a blind man has a distinct edge over a sighted person. When the darkness of sin sweeps over the world, those who follow God will have the advantage--they will see with spiritual eyesight (cf. John 9:39-41).
Lord, help me not to limit myself to one or two ways of knowing You. Energize all my senses to be receptive to the signal You want to send me.
Today's text speaks about a partial darkness, one that affects some people more than others and some parts of the day more than others. It is a good description of life as we experience it. The darkness of sin touches some people more than others.
A humorous story tells about two famous people. Jack Nicklaus was one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. Stevie Wonder is a popular singer distinguished by the fact that he is totally blind. the two of them supposedly got together one day, and it astounded Nicklaus to hear that Wonder was an avid golfer too.
"How can you possibly play golf when you're blind?" Nicklaus queried.
"Oh, it's not too hard, really, " Stevie Wonder said. "When I tee up my ball, I have my caddie walk out the distance I usually drive and call to me from the center of the fairway. Then I hit the ball in his direction, and he calls me from where it lands. I walk over to the ball and then he moves further out in the direction I need to hit until he is standing in the center of the green. He tells me how far it is to traps and water hazards, and I hit the ball accordingly."
"That's amazing!" Nicklaus said. "But tell me something--how do you ever manage to putt?"
"Oh, that's the easy part for me. The caddie describes the tilt and speed of the green and then lies on his stomach, talking to me from right behind the hole. I just hit the ball to his voice. In fact, I think I could beat you if we played together."
"You're incredible. But there is no way you could beat me."
"Actually, I think I could," Wonder replied. "Why don't we play a round today?"
"I'm free," Nicklaus answered. "What time shall we get together?"
"How about 10:00 tonight?"
If you know anything about golf, you had a good laugh at that one. Golf is not a game most people would try at night. A teacher of mine loved to say, "In the land of the blind, one eye is king!" Well, in the darkness of night a blind man has a distinct edge over a sighted person. When the darkness of sin sweeps over the world, those who follow God will have the advantage--they will see with spiritual eyesight (cf. John 9:39-41).
Lord, help me not to limit myself to one or two ways of knowing You. Energize all my senses to be receptive to the signal You want to send me.
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