SUMMER SONSHINE

By Dennis Harworth

     It was the first trip of the season to the beach.  The overcast sky yielded a comfortable temperature of 72 degrees.  The frothy white tipped waves were in a soothing perfect rhythm as they curled up to the sand.  The cool ocean breeze gently fluffed your hair as you spread your towel over the warm inviting sand.  As you faded into a relaxed sleep, you tell yourself that you don’t need sunscreen on a day like today.  Besides you need a little jumpstart on your summer tan anyway.

     The low clouds give way to a bright sun that glistens off the royal blue ocean.  Suddenly you wake and realize that you have been “relaxing” a little too long.  While reaching for the sunscreen, you feel your skin stretching and stinging at the same time.  You press your fingertip onto your skin and gasp, as you see the big difference between the white print and the bright pink skin.  At that point there is only one word you can think of—LOBSTER, because you are cooked.

     The next day everyone that sees you knows that you have gotten too much sun and probably will sympathize with you also.  Of course, there is that one person that comes up, slaps you on your sunburned back and says “Hi, how are you doing?”

     Moses is the first person in the Bible to be described as having a “sunburn”. But his shining face wasn't from the sun, but from being in God’s presence and seeing the passing glory of the back of God (Exodus 33:23).  The radiance from the face of Moses was so intense that Aaron and the children of Israel were afraid to approach him.  To ease their fear, Moses covered his face with a veil, but then removed it when speaking with the Lord. (Exodus 34:29-34).

     Since we can now go boldly into God’s presence (Hebrews 4:16), we should also shine forth His light with a radiant glow.  Then the more time we spend in the presence of the Lord, the more noticeable it will be that we were with Him.  This is much more than just spending time in church.  The Lord wants to spend personal, intimate time with us in fellowship with Him.  He desires for us to praise and worship Him in the beauty of His Holiness. (Psalm 96:9).  Jesus wants us to be changed into His image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18), so that we can reflect the very character, nature, and attributes of God to others.  It’s just like when you hang around someone a lot, you will start acting more like that person.  You’ve probably heard the saying: “You become like the company you keep.”

     Therefore, if we are willing to spend more intimate fellowship and worship time in God’s presence, we will radiate His glory and reflect His holiness as we display our

SUMMER SONSHINE.