The Lord created our local heavenly neighborhood so nearly all of the world’s population can see the Orion constellation. In my late fall and winter, it is probably the most striking constellation in the high southern sky. It is not only beautiful to most observers, it is noted by God twice in the scriptures. On December 21, 2011 I wanted to see it, but the skies had bands of spring-like low clouds and the temperature was more like early fall. The sky was noisy with weather activity–like trying to find your way down a noisy street. In order to see the constellation and especially the Orion Nebula within it, I had to check the sky every few minutes–looking for a clearing that would last long enough to see it. About midnight there was a brief period where Orion could be seen through the haze and bands of clouds. The sketch below was done quickly with a white paper and pencil. The written details, border, and clouds were added later. Less than 20 minutes after I was done, it could no longer be seen.
The Orion Nebula through a 16 power binocular on a hazy night is a whitish spot between some loose groups of stars. In the sketch, it is the whispy triangle about 1/3 of the way down the bordered area. I had to concentrate to see it.
Christmas is like trying to see Orion on a hazy night like this. The noise of weather and clouds is not unlike the noise of activity around Christmas. Most of it is unrelated to the remembrance and celebration of Christ’s birth. In fact, one has to hunt to find the central reason for Christmas in most settings. Consider the scripture in the the sketch. Godly wisdom is the same way. Ultimately, the scriptures say the God is Wisdom, but the streets are noisy with activity. Although the Lord makes Himself known through what he has created and through various circumstances, the noisy lives we live–like noisy streets full of sound and activity–keep us from hearing him. He has made it so we must want to know Him. We have to choose to discard or turn away from the noise to hear Him, for He is not far away from those who call on Him. Even at Christmas, it is the same. Families getting together are wonderful. Commerce loves the period. The noise of all that we are shouts and lights up the streets. But God would have us know His son–personally, intimately, and with purpose.
Like the words from Proverbs, where wisdom cries out, so God cries out, knocks on the doors of our hearts, and speaks the way no man can ever speak, so that we might turn to Him, even walk with Him, and even have fellowship with Him. But just like I had to find a hole in the noisy sky to see Orion, so each one must ultimately want to find God, and be ready to turn from any other direction to find Him. He responds to that kind of heart cry.
Please, take time to turn, or turn again….to Him.
