Totality
A word I heard a lot last week is the word “totality”. Here is one definition: Totality (Astronomy) the state or period of an eclipse when light from the eclipsed body is totally obscured
Last Monday, the United States witnessed its first coast-to-coast solar eclipse in more than 90 years. It came with a lot of hoopla and much fanfare. Some of it bordered on the idolatrous as a matter of fact. Solar eclipses are actually a demonstration of our Lord’s sovereignty, power, and genius. The Lord Jesus Christ created the sun, the moon and the stars. Gen 1:14-19 The reason that the astronomers could predict totality to the second is because God made the orbits of the earth and the moon with exact precision. and He is faithful to preserve these things for us. We also have the Lord to thank for the reliability of sunrise and sunset, the seasons, the full moons, and the tides. Jer 31:35-36 36 " If this fixed order departs
And yet the Lord was by and large ignored in the celebrations and testimonies around our country. What we saw instead was a mixed bag of sun worship, praise of science, and astrology! But don’t get me wrong: I really enjoyed the solar eclipse, even here in South Florida when it only reached 80%. I watched some of the coverage on TV, saw the NASA images, and even made a makeshift viewer consisting of a box, white paper, and a pinpricked foil through which the image of the eclipse was projected onto the white paper. I shared the experience with my son, and we talked about how amazing and intricate the Lord Jesus Christ is in creating and upholding the universe. Col 1:15-17 But people exaggerated the significance of this natural phenomenon. Some spoke of how the eclipse will enable a fresh start for planet earth! One reported in Idaho gave an account that sounded like religious worship. You think I’m kidding? Get this: a group of sun worshippers took off all their clothes to witness the event! Astrologers were coming out of the woodwork to tout the significance of the horrorscope for this day. (That’s not a typo; that’s what I call it) Some called it a mystical experience. Here’s what a 73 – year-old lady from Oregon said about the “diamond ring”. “ It was a very primal experience, it really was. I’ve seen other magnificent things but there is nothing, nothing like this.” With all respect, I have to disagree with that. I read more magnificent things every day when I open up my Bible. And here’s what another person said about the diamond ring: “That silvery ring is so hypnotic and mesmerizing, it does remind you of wizardry, or like magic.” This is the diamond ring by the way. And the word people kept reciting in reverential terms was – TOTALITY. “Four minutes to totality.” Two minutes to totality, two minutes!” Which got me thinking…. The three minutes or so when in a total solar eclipse the shadow of the moon completely covers the sun is called “totality”. But you see, totality has a second meaning:
This is the definition I want to talk about for the rest of this blog. Why? Because when I read this definition of totality I start thinking about the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ : who He is, and what He has accomplished. Eph 1:8-10 Col 1:17-20 See, as a Christian, this is the totality that deserves our awe and adoration. People paid attention to precise times on Monday. For South Florida, zero hour for the eclipse was 2:57 PM. And for those along the 70 mile band of totality, that totality lasted somewhere between 1 and 3 minutes. But in fact, zero hour for the universe occurred when our Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross. Luke 23:44-46 During the three hours when our Lord was suffering on the cross, there was a complete solar eclipse. Total darkness enveloped the land for 3 hours. This was a miracle. And the longest duration of totality will be produced at 7 minutes, 29 seconds on July 16, 2186. This will be the longest solar eclipse computed between 4000BC and 6000AD. The longest natural solar eclipse, that is. The supernatural solar eclipse that came upon the land during the crucifixion of Christ lasted 180 minutes! There is something else miraculous about this solar eclipse. It occurred at Passover. And the first night of Passover begins on the night of a full moon. However, solar eclipses can only occur naturally during a new moon! And when our Lord Jesus Christ was about to die, He cried out, “It is finished”. The Greek word tetelestai means to bring to fulfillment, to bring to an end, to discharge a debt. Col 2:13-14 This totality is far more wonderful and awesome than anything the sun and the moon can do! The governing power of sin and death was finished at the cross! Rom 8:1-4 The cross of Christ accomplished totality the likes of which no human mind could ever conceive . The Light of the world was eclipsed at that moment that our Lord died on the cross. He was buried. And that eclipse lasted for 3 days and 3 nights. And then the Light reappeared, and the brilliance that emanated from the empty tomb has lit the way for mankind ever since. John 1:1-9 6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. 9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. Our old man Adam was crucified with Christ, in order that our body of sin might be put out of business. And our trespasses and sins were eclipsed. God saw the blood of Christ and was satisfied. He blotted out our sins from His line of sight. And not for three minutes, but forever. 1 John 4:10 Totality for us means that our sin , not in part but the whole, - the TOTALITY! - was nailed to the cross and we bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul. Heb 9:26 Col 1:13-14 In addition, totality in Christ means we are seen as totally righteous in God’s eyes because of the death and resurrection of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Cor 5:21 God can look straight at us without our sin searing the cornea of His righteousness.
And God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Not a few blessings, but the totality of blessings – every one! Eph 1:3-4 Totality is fullness, and oh, what a fullness we have in Christ. Eph 3:14-21 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. To Him be the glory. Totality! Totality yesterday, today - and forever.
Until the next time, we’re all …. In His grip, Pastor John If you found this helpful, please pass it on! Post it on Facebook, or tweet about it!
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