Important for the Moment. There is no doubt that immediate things in front of our face and eyes receive instant attention. You could say that it is natural, since we respond to quickly to what we discern with senses. So it was on this evening. The weather was predicted to be cloudy, but the cold front passed a couple hours earlier than expected. The meeting of breaking clouds and sunset yielded spectacular color for about 5 minutes. 30 minutes later the sky was nearly clear and the almost-full moon rose above the trees. Within a couple hours I was able to broadcast the video output from the astro-video camera on a telescope so friends could see the view but I was also able to paint part of the scene around a pair of craters (Schickard and Inghirami).
The Pride of Interpretation. Predicting how the weather or skies change has been the subject of conversations since creation. Men often wax eloquent–proud of being able to accurately predict things related to both subjects. It is so common that Jesus talked about the pride of interpreting such things as a point of hypocrisy, because the importance of sky interpretation can easily usurp what is truly important about a time–dealing with matters of the soul. In the same section of Luke 13 the subjects of watchfulness, being about the Lord’s business (rather than just our own), the spiritual battle surrounding decisions to follow the Lord are described.
The Seriousness of Times. Nothing has changed on the subject. We have a propensity to make unimportant things too important while the things that are truly important are sidelined. The love of God and the message of the gospel is truly fulfilling and life changing, but God is not a fool. He knows that the choices to make things more important than the place of God in our lives and hearts is full of meaning. We decide what is important by what we do and what we say.
Looking at the Path Taken. So when you look in back of you, does your path prove and demonstrate the weightier matters of the soul? Have you dealt directly with matters of the soul or have other less important things defined your life? If I read the words of scripture correctly, I think it best to consider such things while there is time.
Observation Technical Information
Scope: 12.5 inch Dobsonian with MallinCAM Video Camera on 1/12000 shutter speed
Monitors for study: Sanyo with secondary display via Night Skies Network on laptop
Magnification equivalency: 100X-200X
Study/paint period: about 90 minutes
Medium: oil paints (white, black, grey) on wood (10×12 inches)
Picture in article: low resolution digital picture with some reduction in brightness/contrast
Known picture inaccuracies: light reflection and glint off the wet paints
