Do you enjoy the sun? I know that sounds like a weird question. But today recognizes the longest day on the calendar – even though this year’s longest day occurred yesterday. It’s known as the June solstice, and it happens around June 21st. Why the difference in days? It has to do with aligning the Gregorian calendar with the “length of a tropical year and in the orbital and daily rotational motion of the Earth, such as the “wobble” in the Earth’s axis.”1 The astronomical terminology causes my eyes to glaze over in a scientific overload. Suffice it to say that we are supposed to receive 15 hours, 12 minutes, and 16 seconds of sunlight. That is 15 minutes more sunlight than the day I’m writing this devotional (5/29).
If you really want to soak in some rays, I suggest taking a trip to Svalbard, Norway where from April 20th to August 22nd, the sun doesn’t set below the horizon, providing 24 hours of daylight. Known as the Midnight Sun, “this phenomenon is primarily due to the Earth’s axial tilt of approximately 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane around the sun. During the summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole is tilted towards the sun, resulting in extended periods of daylight for areas north of the Arctic Circle. Similarly, during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer, the South Pole is angled towards the sun, causing prolonged daylight for regions south of the Antarctic Circle.”2 Of course, you have to be prepared to endure the opposite during the winter.
There’s no doubt that the sun is a big part of our lives. We depend on it for light, heat,
energy, photosynthesis, vitamin D production, and gravity. “Our orbit of the sun lasts for 365 days, and a complete orbit forms a year on Earth. This orbital effect is caused by the sun’s large gravitational pull, and our orbit ensures that we consistently remain at the perfect distance from the sun to reap the benefits and not experience temperatures that are either too hot or too cold for the existence of life on Earth.”3
Since I’m writing this on 5/29, there’s no way I can know if today is sunny or drear. In good faith, I’m going to say it’s beautiful and sunny. If so, take your Bible outdoors and read some “sunny” verses of Scripture.
Genesis 1:16-18 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. (17) And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, (18) And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
Psalms 50:1 The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
Psalms 74:16 The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
Psalms 113:1-3 Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. (2) Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. (3) From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised. (We have a chorus based on this Psalm!)
The day is coming, though, when the usefulness of the sun will no longer be needed. As you enjoy the sunshine, imagine the glories awaiting us in Heaven according to these verses in the Revelation.
Revelation 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Revelation 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
1https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/june-solstice.html
2https://www.ncesc.com/geographic-pedia/what-places-on-earth-have-the-longest-days/
3https://www.enkimd.com/why-do-we-need-the-sun.html
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