On Aug. 21, 2017, skies darkened from Oregon to South Carolina in the first total solar eclipse visible from coast to coast across the United States in 99 years. And totality was coming right our way. Confession? I was geeking out. We loaded up the kids early that morning and drove down to Pisgah Forest where my uncle lives and where there would be 100% totality. After unloading a ridiculous amount of “eclipse party” snacks, drinks and decorations we walked outside to the golf course behind my uncle’s house. There was a broad swath of field with trees that formed a ring around the outer edges and made the perfect viewing spot. We scouted out our nook; put down chairs, blankets and little sun tents for the kids before settling in for a fun day of food and eclipse anticipation.
A little after 1pm the event began. With those super cute eclipse shades plastered to our faces we all stared up to watch first contact. A sliver of a shadow crept upon the sun. For over an hour we would continue to glance back up with our chic eyewear as the moon took a larger and larger bite out of that fiercely glowing orb in the sky.
And then at 2:37pm it happened. The sun was eclipsed. It was one of the most spectacular sky events I’ve ever seen as the sky grew swiftly dark and the sun-moon-shadow-iridescent blue orb in the sky popped into place for forty-five seconds. The crowd of fifteen or so in our group gasped. Other people scattered around the field in various clusters also released exclamations of surprise and delight. Within a matter of seconds the entire world had transformed.
When the sun’s first brilliant rays burst out from the shadowy moon– creating that classic ‘diamond ring’ image, the world brightened remarkably fast. The crowd on the field erupted in cheers. Daylight returned within seconds even though the partial eclipse continued until just after 4:00pm.
I’m really glad we made the trip to get to a place of totality. The difference between even 98% and 100%— well, made all the difference in the world. It was like a different event. It wasn’t until within the last sixty seconds toward totality that the world got noticeably darker. You see, for most of the eclipse event, during partiality, the world around remained the same. The sky was as bright as ever, it was warm outside, and if you didn’t have glasses on to be able to stare directly at the sun, you really wouldn’t know there was anything different happening that day. For most people going about their daily lives, it was just another Monday. Without the glasses, without knowing where to look, no one would notice that a really cool cosmic event was happening that very moment!
Likewise, the Kingdom of God has a way of slowly breaking into this world, often unassuming, often missed by most people. The Gospels reference the Kingdom of God/Heaven/His Kingdom about eighty times. With the coming of Christ, Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom. John the Baptist boldly pronounced in Mark 1:15 “The time has come, the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Jesus alluded to the mysterious nature of God’s Kingdom when talking to the Pharisees in Luke 17. He proclaimed that the kingdom of God is in their midst. That sounded strange to the religious leaders of the day who were expecting God’s kingdom to mean the overthrow of Rome and Israel’s new kingdom would reign. The signs they were expecting were not to be found. And yet—the king (Jesus) was present and so was His kingdom.
Through Jesus’ presence the Kingdom of God was entering the world. A mysterious and elusive kingdom like that of a mustard seed, leaven, a man sowing good seed in his field, a merchant seeking pearls a large net cast into the sea, treasure hidden in a field (Matthew 13). The ushering in of God’s Kingdom happened in remote places, with unexpected people, through healings and exorcisms but not the great political, military, and even religious signs that the Pharisees were looking for. The Kingdom of God was in their midst, but they couldn’t even see. They didn’t know where to look, they didn’t have the eyes to see (Matthew 13:15-17).
The Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven, is like an eclipse. It has already begun here on earth. With the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, our Lord’s Kingdom has already come. Death has been defeated, healing has occurred, the Good News of God is being proclaimed. And yet— it hasn’t achieved totality yet. We are in this time of partiality— God’s Kingdom is already but not yet. “As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:8-9)
The Kingdom is slowly working toward an ultimate fulfillment. We are not Kingdom makers, we don’t bring God’s Kingdom—God does. God’s Kingdom will come, as we pray “on earth as it is in heaven.” But we do have a chance to be a part of what God is doing. To recognize something amazing is happening. The world you see around you isn’t all that’s going on! During the eclipse we needed glasses until totality. But once we reached 100% we removed our glasses and we could see fully, without the aid of any other medium. “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12
We are heading toward a fulfillment of all of God’s promises— and with eyes to see, and your eyes, hearts and attention focused in the right direction, you can catch glimpses of God’s advancing Kingdom all around.
So go ahead and begin a celebration, receive God’s Kingdom with joy. Expect that God is doing something in this world, even when it may not always appear like anything has changed. Put on your ‘Gospel glasses’ and look up. Proclaim a new reality to those who have yet to see, and share the Gospel glasses with others so they too can see that there is more than meets the eye. Christ has died. Christ is Risen. Christ will come again.
Blessings,
Pastor Nicole