Our sun is a fitting metaphor for the glory of God. In the context of our solar system, it is massive, bright, beautiful, powerful, self-sufficient, heat-producing, life-giving, and dangerous. It is, by far, the dominant feature of our solar system and without it the system would fling apart and all living things therein would die.
On the other hand, our moon is a fitting metaphor for human beings, especially for those who believe in Jesus Christ. First, compared to the sun, the moon is tiny and dim. The sun is 400 times larger than the moon, its mass is 27 million times greater than the mass of the moon, and from our perspective its light shines 450,000 times brighter than that of the moon. The sun is so much greater than the moon that it’s difficult to quantify and express the difference. Likewise, the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is so much great than each and all of us that it’s impossible to quantify or express the difference. Indeed, the Lord is very great and greatly to be praised!
Second, the light of the moon is reflected light. Its glory is borrowed glory. Its main purpose is to point to a source outside of itself that is much greater than itself. Likewise, the light of those who believe in Jesus Christ is reflected light. Their glory is borrowed glory. Their main purpose in life is to point to the Source outside of themselves who is infinitely greater than themselves, namely, the Son who is their light and life. As the moon is utterly dependent upon the sun, so believers are utterly dependent upon the Son.
Third, unlike the sun which shines bright and steady, the moon shines dimly and in stages. At times, the moon is so engulfed in the light of the sun that people can actually walk and, to some extent, function by its light. But even then its light is not worthy to be compared to that of the sun. At other times, the moon is shielded from its source so that it shines at less than full potential, or even fails to shine at all. The moon is neither ultimate nor steadfast. Even at its best, it is an imperfect image of its source. Likewise, those who believe in Jesus Christ are neither ultimate nor steadfast. Even at our best, we are imperfect images of our Source.
The sun shines by its own might and power, and does not borrow its light from another. The moon shines by the mercy of the sun. Likewise, the Son exists by his own might and power, and does not borrow anything from another. Believers, on the other hand, live and breathe and have their being by the mercy of the Son, to whom belongs glory and honor and praise and adoration and thanksgiving forever and ever!
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