There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
1 Corinthians 15:41
Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
1 Corinthians 12:22
Spiritually, Christians and Holy Angels are stars, shining the light of Jesus Christ. In the natural, stars are heavenly bodies that shine from the fuel they’ve been given. They don’t selfishly hoard their fuel, but they let it be consumed so that all may benefit from their light. So it is spiritually. The Word of God is the fuel. We kindle the fire by allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us how to die to self. As we follow Christ’s example of death, spiritual life is shining in and through our lives. In the natural, the stars have helium and hydrogen. That is the fuel. A nuclear reaction takes place which is akin to the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. A natural star will eventually burn up its fuel and die. Yet spiritually, we are to let our lights shine, knowing that the fuel of the Word of God and the kindling power of the Holy Spirit will never be exhausted. Just like Jesus fed the 5,000 natural food which was spiritually multiplied into as much as was needed, so it is with our lives. We will never run out of God’s Word and the Spirit of God. God will enable us to shine forevermore, hallelujah.
Just as Christians are spiritual stars, so sinners and Satan and demons are spiritual black holes. It is interesting in the natural that black holes form from large stars that have run out of fuel and have collapsed on themselves. This represents the spiritual transformation from love to selfishness. Stars live to give light. Black holes don’t really live. They just exist but are spiritually dead. A black hole selfishly sucks up everything that surrounds it, even light. This is akin to lust. People no longer die to self but seek to use others for selfish gain, making merchandise of them. This is what Satan does and his demons and his sinners follow him in the way of lust and selfishness. It is also interesting that black holes form from what used to be bright stars. This is true of Satan and his demons. They used to be lights but now they have become counterfeit lights, pretending to be something they used to actually be. So it is with many religious sinners. They used to be light bearers but now are just selfishly going through religious motions. They live to consume rather than to bless and give. Black holes are safe to observe, but only from a distance. If you get close to a natural black hole, it will suck you in. This is what happens if a Christian gets spiritually close to a sinner. He will become a sinner himself if he does what sinners do. Bad manners corrupt good morals, says the Scripture. The parable of the sower shows us that Satan can steal light and the Word of God out of people’s hearts, just like a black hole steals light naturally.
Notice that one star differs from another star in glory. Stars come in different sizes and differ in the amount of fuel that they have available to shine with. This is spiritual reality as well. Each Christian has a finite amount of the Word of God in his or her heart. With the understanding we have, we shine forth as lights in a dark world. Christ is the light of the world and so are His body, shining the same spiritual illumination and understanding that love is the highest way to live and in truth is the only way to really live. Dying to self is like a star using its fuel to bring light to others. We are willing to sacrifice our lives and die to self in order to demonstrate the love of God that has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
While the stars differ in glory, they are not envious of each other. They are happy that there are others who are shining the light of Christ. It is not a competition but rather a mutual building up of each other in the Truth by the Spirit. There is one sky but many stars. There is one body but many members. The weak members of the body of Christ are like the stars that don’t shine as brightly as others. Yet, they are still shining. Their lamps have not gone out, and in that we rejoice. It is like the parable of the talents. The one with 5 talents is doing work that others aren’t doing. So it is with the one that has 2 talents. He is doing his own unique and essential work. They are not competing against each other but instead helping each other to shine in their own special way with the talents and giftings that God has bestowed upon them. It is alright to have differing functions and callings, as long as the Spirit behind it all is the love of Christ.
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Daniel 12:3
We are light bearers in that we lead others to the same truth of Christ that we are living. This is how we shine, by providing a living example of who Christ is and how Christ lives in love through self sacrifice. We pick up our crosses daily and follow Christ. Nothing is more powerful than an object lesson. Our lives should be the study of everyone who desires to live a holy life that pleases God. Just as natural astronomers study stars and keep track of their properties, so the world should become astronomers, gazing lovingly at the stars God has created for His glory. They should be measuring their lives against ours and asking themselves: “what’s missing in my life? What do they have that I don’t have?”
He that wins souls is wise. When our lives speak the truth of the gospel, it shows the world that it is possible to live an overcoming life. No longer does sin rule over us, but we exercise power and dominion over sin and temptation. Life takes on new meaning and we shine like never before. Our spiritual shining and illumination should lead to others catching on fire for the Lord Jesus Christ. It takes a sold out life to shine. We can’t play with sin and expect to be an example for others to follow. For God’s sake and the sake of others, we need to let God sanctify us wholly. Sin should be the exception in a Christian’s life, not a rule they live by each day.
So what it the conclusion? We are created by God to be light bearers of Christ. All the hidden wisdom in the universe is found in Jesus. Live life fully with the understanding that only Christ can bring. Die to yourself daily so that others can see the light of the world, the morning star, Jesus Christ Himself. Spend much time in prayer and in the Word daily so that you may have the spiritual fuel needed to shine. Don’t be a selfish spiritual black hole that uses others, but rather give yourself away freely as a love sacrifice for Jesus and others. God will richly reward all those who empty themselves of self and live a sacrificial life of love, as long as it is IN CHRIST. Amen.