A Dimming Moon
Behold, even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure in his eyes; how much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm!
Job 25:5–6
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A Dimming Moon
Verses like these are often difficult to hear, and even more difficult to apply to ourselves. The imagery is raw and grotesque. But when we step back and take in the entirety of what is being said it begins to make sense and even more unsettling starts to make sense of ourselves. When compared to the radiant glory of the Father in heaven, even the moon and stars fade in their brightness. So too do we when we are compared to the perfect and holy God. We are nothing. Luther says, “We have no right to indulge in much bragging and boasting when we step before God. Even if we were members of the highest aristocracy on earth … before God we would still be nothing but bags of worms or bags of manure, infested with lice, maggots, stinking and foul.” And this is our reality. At least it is our reality apart from God’s Son. In Him we are reborn into beings worthy of being in the presence of God. Not because of something within ourselves but wholly on account of Christ and His righteousness. He cloaks us in His purity and blessedness. We become co-heirs to God’s kingdom and are illumined by the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. It is on Him and Him alone that we are made right with God. It is on account of His death and resurrection that we are able to stand on judgement day innocent. His light shine upon us, casting off the shadows of sin and death. In Christ we are forgiven and made new.
Job 25:5–6
+
A Dimming Moon
Verses like these are often difficult to hear, and even more difficult to apply to ourselves. The imagery is raw and grotesque. But when we step back and take in the entirety of what is being said it begins to make sense and even more unsettling starts to make sense of ourselves. When compared to the radiant glory of the Father in heaven, even the moon and stars fade in their brightness. So too do we when we are compared to the perfect and holy God. We are nothing. Luther says, “We have no right to indulge in much bragging and boasting when we step before God. Even if we were members of the highest aristocracy on earth … before God we would still be nothing but bags of worms or bags of manure, infested with lice, maggots, stinking and foul.” And this is our reality. At least it is our reality apart from God’s Son. In Him we are reborn into beings worthy of being in the presence of God. Not because of something within ourselves but wholly on account of Christ and His righteousness. He cloaks us in His purity and blessedness. We become co-heirs to God’s kingdom and are illumined by the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. It is on Him and Him alone that we are made right with God. It is on account of His death and resurrection that we are able to stand on judgement day innocent. His light shine upon us, casting off the shadows of sin and death. In Christ we are forgiven and made new.
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2026
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