Watch your wobble

June 23, 2006

By Scott Harrup

Over the past 10 years or so, astronomers have discovered about 180 planets outside of our solar system. If you’re surprised to learn that, keep in mind there are an estimated 200 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy. Chances are good there are plenty more planets out there.

But if you’re a backyard astronomer, don’t go trying to find any yourself. Jupiter and Saturn may show up in your telescope just fine, but any planets beyond the solar system are so far away that even the largest telescopes cannot see them. So how do scientists continue to identify them?

Some stars give evidence of a planet’s presence. Astronomers carefully observe a star’s light. If a large enough planet passes directly in front of a star as observed from Earth, that star’s light will dim slightly. Even if the planet never passes in front of a star from our point of view, its gravitational pull makes the starlight “wobble” ever so slightly. And this movement is detectable from Earth.

Reading about these discoveries got me to thinking about my Christian testimony. Jesus described His followers’ life examples as “light” that shines out to a lost world. “Let your light so shine before men,” Jesus commanded, “that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16, NKJV).

Our light, just like the light of those massive stars spread across our galaxy, is subject to subtle influences. Our light can dim. Our testimony can “wobble.”

No one has yet been able to see any of the planets orbiting faraway stars. But the influence on the starlight is unmistakable. No one may ever discover a sin that latches onto my life. But the influence of that sin on my ability to represent Christ to others will be unmistakable. If I consistently give in to temptation in any area, if I let some ungodly practice take orbit in my soul, people who observe me will begin to question the “light” I give off.

But that shouldn’t discourage me. Rather, I need to remember how dependent I am on the Holy Spirit to live for God faithfully. As the Spirit lovingly whispers conviction to my heart, I have the privilege of repenting. Then the God of the universe steps in. His grace removes that sin as far as the east is from the west. And I keep on shining.

Scott Harrup is associate editor of Today’s Pentecostal Evangel.