“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2
Polaris is the scientific name for the North Star, and it is the brightest star in the constellation of Ursa Mina. It is the star closest to the North Celestial Pole and remains almost stationary through the night. For centuries, the North Star has been used as a reference point and guide for astronomers and navigators. It lights the way to true north. Knowing how to find the North Star is one of the most basic survival skills and gives one the ability to find direction on even the darkest of nights. To find the North Star, first look for the Big Dipper. Next, locate the two stars that form the outer edge of the Big Dipper. Located directly across from them is the handle of the Little Dipper. The North Star is the brightest star in the handle of the Little Dipper.
As Christians, our North Star is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our bright and constant source of direction. By trusting and following Him for the forgiveness of our sins, we find salvation. We can confidently look to Him for guidance as we navigate this sea of life. The bright light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ pierces the darkness of this present world.
However, finding Jesus and making Him the North Star of our lives is a little different from finding the celestial North Star. If you ask people, “How do you find Jesus?” you will receive many different answers. Just as no two snowflakes are exactly alike, no two people find Jesus in the same way. Every person’s relationship with HIM is truly unique. Sometimes the bright lights and distractions of this earthly world get in the way of seeing the one true light of Jesus. When the pretty baubles of this world lose their luster in darkness, disappointments and mistakes, we finally come to recognize the void in our lives. Interestingly, as one person said, “He finds us; we don’t find Him.” It is then, in the midst of darkness, that we see Him clearly and realize that He was there beside us all along. John Newton wrote, “I once was lost, but now I am found, I was blind but now I see.”
“From one man he made every nation of men that they should inhabit the whole earth; and be determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” Acts 17:26-27
May you truly experience the hope and love of The Lord Jesus Christ this Christmas.
Tanya Shearer
