Kissed By The Sun

A couple of weeks ago, I twice watched a setting sun kiss the tops of trees and towers around me. Each time I caught my breath at the color caused by the sun’s rays falling on a bland landscape. And each time I wondered, is this what happens when the Son kisses us with His light? Is the blush of color from His beauty seen by those nearby?

Just after the new year began, a respiratory bug decided to settle in my throat. Thankfully nothing major, but enough of something to send me to the doctor’s office to check it out. That’s when I saw the first beautiful kiss of a setting sun. Of all things, the light landed on a water tower, turning the blue-gray tank pink. As I left the doctor’s office, I looked in awe at the transformation caused by the sun’s rays.

A few days later, still recuperating, I rested on the couch in the sunroom. Looking out the window that afternoon I saw the sun’s beauty again. This time the light kissed the tops of trees in my backyard, painting them gold. The window frame added its artistic touch by creating a cross right over the view outside.

And my mind wandered. Kissed by the sun? Or kissed by the Son?

Kissed By The Sun

The idea of being kissed by the sun may sound trite. Or maybe it brings beautiful thoughts to mind. A lovely day at the beach where the sun’s rays beat down with a warmth that fills you inside and out. Or a peach that’s beautifully ripe because it had the perfect amount of sunshine caress it as it grew. Maybe it’s the morning glow as the sun’s first rays thrust themselves through a kitchen window. Or perhaps it’s the sight of a brilliant full moon, flooding the night with light as the sun reflects its powerful rays off a rocky orb in the sky.

When I think of something kissed by the sun, I imagine a beautiful view created by the rays of earth’s great light. But I understand that the beauty I see is not due to the item being illuminated. The power of the beauty is in the sun causing the view. We can’t look at the sun itself without being blinded. But we can see the glory of the sun as it kisses creation around us.

Kissed By The Son

Jesus tells us He is the light of the world (John 8:12). But He also tells us we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). How can both these statements be true?

Jesus, the Son of the living God, is the true light of the world. He is truth and peace and hope and joy. He is love. And His light shines in our hearts when we are His. His light reflects off us like the sun reflects off the trees, clouds, towers, and moon. When we let the true light fill us with His Spirit and live through us in His love, people see the glory of the One who truly lights up this world.

For all who say, “Yes,” to Jesus as Lord and Savior, His light shines on us and in us. As the light of the sun shows its glory when it kisses the landscape, so God is glorified when we walk in the light of the Lord. It’s not our love that people see; we are reflecting the amazing love of the Father. And then we, like a full moon, are light in a dark world.

May we turn our faces to Jesus, the Son, every day; let Him kiss us with His grace, mercy, and peace. May we so reflect the glory of the Lord that all who are near will stand in awe of the One who is the true light shining in the darkness.

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

2 Corinthians 4: 6-7 (KJV)

A Personal Note

Troubles Test Us

The phrase, Kissed By The Sun, hit my heart two weeks ago. I began writing, but didn’t get far. My mind and body were still weary from whatever bug was working on me. My sister’s health was not good, but my health made it unwise to try to be with her. A week later her housemate hurt her back, and my housemate tested positive for the virus we hate to name.

A week ago my cough had me up for a couple of hours in the night. I chose to use some of that time to watch the memorial service for Pastor Ray Bentley who unexpectedly died the first week of January. A man who loved Israel, and who taught prophecy conferences with Anne Graham Lotz, I had come to appreciate his love for our Lord.

In the first four weeks of this year, I heard of nine other deaths of people in my world. Each one came as a shock to me, but not to our Father.

Our Father Is Faithful

I could ask God why these things are happening. Why take two couples within a week of each other, leaving their children to flounder as they grieve such a great loss? Why take a pastor of a thriving church and Bible College when our world is in such a state of need? Why allow me and my housemate to be sick when my sister and her housemate need our help?

But I don’t need to ask why. Not because God isn’t willing for me to ask Him. But because our Father has shown Himself to be good and faithful in the past. And He never changes. The hurts and pains of this world are reminders that each of us needs to know the kiss of the Son. Without Jesus, the losses and illnesses are too much. But Jesus has overcome death for us, giving us a hope that no one can take away. His Light shines, and we are blessed in our souls in spite of the chaos and pain around us.

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)

God Bless You

My story the last few weeks is no different than the story of many of you. Losses and hurts seem to have ramped up in number and frequency the last two years. We need to keep ourselves open to the light of the Son. He desires to shine in our hearts, kissing us gently with His love, calming our hearts with His peace.

May you be blessed in the weeks ahead and walk in the light of the Lord. As our Father’s creation is made lovely when kissed by the sun, so may we show forth His beauty to those around us. May we bask in the light of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May we be kissed by the Son.

(Photos: Pink clouds of a sunset in Jerusalem taken by Elisheva Damkani, January 2022, used by permission; remaining photos taken by Carolyn Thigpen in Grayson and Loganville, GA, January 2022.)