William Wise
[Originally published as There Fell a Great Star]
He has showered down upon us the richness of his grace—for how well he understands us and knows what is best for us at all times. Ephesians 1:8 TLB
A waxing gibbous moon hangs about 45 degrees above me to the south. I sit and enjoy a quiet evening on my back patio with my family. As the sky darkens to a deeper blue, the long bright trail of a “shooting star” blazes across the sky. It originated just below the moon and fired in a somewhat downward angle to the east until it faded out near the tree line.
Every time I see a meteor flash across the sky I am reminded of the grace of God.
On day two of creation, when God divided the waters and set a firmament in the heavens, He enveloped our planet with a protective blanket. Earth’s atmosphere burns up these space rocks—traveling at up to 40 miles per second—before impacting our planet and destroying life as we know it… an impressive, passive protection designed by an omniscient Creator!
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Romans 5:9
“Wow!” I exclaimed, just after this meteor blazed across the sky. My wife and kids sitting with me all said, “What?” So I knew I was the only one to see it.
In much the same manner, so many people never notice these wonders of God. While we sit in ignorance, giant masses of stone are hurtling toward our planet. Not only are we are ignorant of our danger, but we are ignorant of His grace. Yet He protects us still!
Judgment
Unfortunately, one day His protection will be lifted and a great judgment—a judgment that has long been withheld because of His immense mercy and longsuffering—will take place. Our souls must be prepared against this day. Not by building underground meteor shelters, but simply by recognizing and accepting His grace and salvation. The same grace that covers our planet in a protective atmosphere is sufficient to save all in the day of wrath.
And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. Revelation 8:10–11
