The third part of this mini nature series will observe the symbolism of the sun and its beautiful parallel to the Son.
Let’s first take a look at what benefits the earth and the human body receive from this magnificent star:
We know that plants require sunlight to grow. But have you ever stopped to consider what that means for life on earth? Vegetation further supports the food chain and provides us with oxygen. Without plants, life on earth would suffer. What’s more, Earth would freeze without heat from the sun. There would be no wind, ocean currents, or clouds to transport water (National Geographic).
As for the human body, UVB rays encourage the skin’s production of Vitamin D. Only five to fifteen minutes of sun exposure per day is needed to give your body a boost of this essential vitamin. Also, sunlight triggers the release of serotonin via the retina, therefore enhancing our overall mood (Ecclesiastes 11:7). Natural stress relief! UV exposure has also been shown to help heal many skin ailments (Healthline).
In other words, we need the sun for healthy survival!
But much like the sun in the sky, we also need another Son for healthy survival (John 3:16).
Scripture has many references to light. Beginning in Genesis 1:3, God speaks light into existence via the heavenly lights. God also alludes to Jesus as being the light of the world (John 1:9, John 8:12, 1 John 1:5). As we have seen through previous blog posts (i.e., symbolism of trees), the Bible is full of metaphors that describe human appearance, character, and spiritual growth. Mark 4:6, 2 Samuel 23:3-4, and Matthew 17:2 are great examples of applicable sun qualities.
My hope is that this series is encouraging you to see the world in a new light. Matter isn’t just matter. There is something spiritually symbolic in everything that exists, and if we look close enough, we will undoubtedly be directed towards our Creator (Romans 1:20, Psalm 19:1).
Soul search:
When was the last time you intentionally spent a few minutes observing the sun’s warmth on your skin?
What parallels can you find between the sun and the Son?
My prayer for you this week:
Psalm 84:11 NLT
For the Lord God is our sun and shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
