Candle In Front of the Sunrise

 There are so many things to distract followers of Jesus in this life. There is no use for me to recount them. We are all familiar with what they are. We are fare game for distractions like an animal caught in a snare. We are also far too easily pleased. 

Turner and I love to go into stores and smell the candles. Admittedly some of them give off a foul odor. Others are nearly intoxicating causing the sense of smell to awaken and do the happy dance. We have amused ourselves at great length while Brenda shopped. We would pick them up sniff, comment, and invite the other to take a whiff. We love the smell of candles. 

Candles don't just get off pleasant odors. They also provide light when needed. Do you recall the great freeze in Texas this past winter. We were certainly glad to have the tiny light of those candles to somewhat illuminate our frigid home. We did not stay up late during those days. We snuggled under the blankets to get warm and waited for the sun to rise the next day. 

What comfort those dawn hours brought. The sun peeled back the black velvet curtain of night to peak his head upon a new day. Just seeing the sun brought a little hope. 

Now just imagine putting a candle outside and getting totally engrossed looking at it. So engrossed we totally miss the brilliance and majesty of the sun rise behind it. 

That is a great comparison to what many do. They focus on the temporary things of earth to capture their attention and imagination. All the while God offers Himself as a greater and more fulfilling option to anything this world offers. Like a candle trying to compare to the sun. Nothing compares to God. Not one single solitary thing. Not any person. 

His greatness is indescribable. Unfathomable. Inscrutable. Incomprehensible. Incalculable. Immeasurable. He is worthy of our best mental efforts to learn of Him. He is a subject never to be mastered. He is an expedition never to fully explored. He is a mountain never to reach the summit and an ocean to never reach sea floor. He is fascinating, mysterious, and desires to be known. 

God forgive us for focusing on the minute candles of this world when You are like an infinite sunrise to capture our passion, imagination, intellect, and deepest devotion.