Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-10

Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. 2 We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this. 3 If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 5 You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

Not only does God’s light have the power to supersede the darkest night, and shine after the strongest storm but it will also shine

3. After the Blackest Eclipse.

We have just gone through eclipse mania where people traveled for many miles to witness the incredible phenomenon of a solar eclipse. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks (“eclipses”) the Sun. When that happens day is turned to darkness, nocturnal animals come out, cicada’s start to sing, the temperature drops and strange things start to take place. But the same thing can happen spiritually where people experience a “Soular Eclipse”. This is what is being described in verse 4 where, “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News” Satan the prince of darkness blinds the minds of unbelieving people so that they stumble around in the darkness. Now consider this amazing fact, that while the Sun is roughly 400 times bigger than the Moon, it is also about 400 times farther away from the earth, which is why they often appear to be the same size. While the Moon is tiny compared to the huge Sun it can still blots out the Sun, one because it stands between the Sun and us, and second because it is closer to us. The same is true for us often we let small things get in between God and us so that His light becomes limited in our lives. Now while I do not advise you to do this you can actually create your own eclipse simply by holding a quarter very close to your eye. Even as small as it is, a simple quarter can block out the Sun. In reality, it doesn’t block out the Sun it blocks out your sight of the Sun. So let me ask you what things are you allowing to get in between you and God so as to eclipse Him? What are you focusing on that blots out your vision of God? What is it that eclipses His light in your life? Is it some secret sin that is crippling your sight, are you focused on fear so that you fail to see the Father, or are you so worked up over worry that you fail to worship ? Sometimes the occlusion is inside us. There are many people who because of cataracts are for all practical purposes, blind. Cataracs eclipsed the light, but when they undergo surgery to have those cataracts removed the eclipse is gone and their sight is restored. The things around them didn’t disappear they were just eclipsed. The same is true of God, He is still there you just don’t realize it because you have lost your spiritual sight. I want to challenge you to take time and look inside your heart and mind and ask yourself if there are any spiritual, moral or mental cataracts that are eclipsing God’s light in your life? His light still shines behind the eclipse but it’s not until we deal with the cataract that everything that blocks our vision of God is removed, the eclipse comes to an end and we can see His light shining brightly again. While there are many reasons why God’s light can get blocked in our life here are several common causes of spiritual SOULAR eclipses.

• As a result of the love of money and material possessions.
• Because of unforgiveness and a desire to get even with someone who has wronged you.
• It may be because of some poisonous passion, a desire and lust for some forbidden fruit.
• Because of a consuming desire for popularity, power, prestige or position.
• It may be the result of a self-righteousness spirit that refuses to acknowledge our need of forgiveness and salvation through Christ.
• It may be pride, arrogance or conceit or a sense of superiority.

Whatever it is that stands between you and God will eclipse your view of His glorious light. Are you experiencing a”SOULAR Eclipse.?” Recognize what is blocking your view of Him and repent, turn to Him and He will return your sight. As the Psalmist said in Psalm 107:10-14, “Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, imprisoned in iron chains of misery. They rebelled against the words of God, scorning the counsel of the Most High. …. ‘LORD, help!’ they cried in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; He snapped their chains.” No matter how deep the darkness that you find yourself in, cry out to God for help and He will lead you out of darkness and into the light. As David declared in Psalm 139:11-12, “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,’ Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.” We serve a God who spoke this world into existence and He started first by speaking into the darkness and saying  “Let there be light” and there was. He has also sent the light of His Son, Jesus Christ into the chaos and darkness of this world to light up our lives. As John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” Just as God sent John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. So we also have the privilege of being witness that reflect His light to a watching world. But we can’t reflect Jesus as long as there is junk in our lives that is eclipsing the Lord’s light.