While many people are celebrating the Day of Epiphany this January 6^th and remembering the wise men following the star which led to the Savior of the World, I am thinking back on a time when I had an epiphany surrounding the stars. 

One night not long ago, I looked out the window before heading to bed and found I was looking at a sky full of stars, a sky packed with stars—stars as far as the eye could see. It was a cloudless night, and no one had their porch lights on.  I stepped out onto the back lawn, overcome with awe and wonder.  My heart leapt in worship.  And then, God spoke to my heart from the vast, cool expanse.  He was reaching out to talk with me, and my heart reached back. He reminded me that He has named every star and knows my name, too.

How blessed I am that the God of all the universe has created such beauty for me to behold.  How wonderful it is that I can know the stars were all named and put into place with His perfect knowledge and plan.  But if I stopped here—at this head knowledge—my heart would miss out on something: this God of everything wants me to know His name. He wants me to understand He has made and placed me here and wants to have a relationship with me.  He shows me who He is. Will I recognize who He is?  Will I search out the path that leads me to Him rather than wandering down another which leads to a fruitless end?  There is joy, life, and peace in knowing this God, the star-creator and the star-namer.  And after this life on earth ends, I will be able to know Him in eternity, in all His fulness. I will be in the presence of the creator of all, the Name above all names.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.

Psalm 19:1–4 (NKJV)

©Text and photo Francee Strain, January 6, 2021