What to make of the Solar Eclipse?

April 8th, 2024

By Pastor Tommy Zukoski

Today's solar eclipse has got a lot of Christians talking, saying it's a sign of Jesus' return. Did you know since 2001, we've had 50 solar eclipses? That makes today's the 51st. That's like, almost two every year, all over the planet. And with the recent earthquakes in Asia, and in NYC — there has been 75 earthquakes in just the last two weeks—it seems like more people are reading these as signs.

Signs that maybe Jesus is coming back next week, or that some big election is going to change everything. But why are we so focused on these solar and seismic events as signs? Honestly, I'm not sure. What I am sure about is that I need to keep my focus on Jesus. I can't get all caught up in what someone on YouTube says, claiming they know when Jesus was born because of an eclipse. No, I've got to keep my eyes on Him. Pray, dive into the Bible, and just keep following Jesus. There's a lot of talk out there, with so-called prophetic scholars saying the turmoil in America is all because of an election, as if history hasn't shown us how Rome had its grip on Israel during Jesus' time, and they were pretty ruthless. Remember when Abraham bargained with God over Sodom and Gomorrah, looking for just one righteous man to save the city?

We've already got that one righteous man—Jesus.And yet, we keep obsessing over wars, earthquakes, all these things, like we're trying to crunch some divine data to figure out when Jesus will come back. Back in the day, Rome was no picnic for the people of Israel. They expected the Messiah to come swinging, to take down Rome's iron fist. But Jesus? He came in peace, worked miracles, showed love, and even laid down His life for those same Romans. Think about that—Jesus died even for the ones we'd consider enemies. I must confess, when COVID first emerged, I was one of those who thought it would pass quickly. I even declared it on my timeline, convinced we'd be out of the woods sooner rather than later. Boy, was I wrong. It reminded me of those days in school when a mistake meant standing in the corner of the room; imagine if we still did that today?

Here's my take now - we're seeing something remarkable happening: revivals on college campuses, new churches springing to life every day around the globe, disciples being formed, and worship music crossing over into secular spaces. Even Christian shows and churches are streaming everywhere, are making a big splash on places like YouTube. So here's what I think is important: let's focus on seeking the Kingdom of God. Let's not get too wrapped up in the natural disasters and pandemics of the world. We should pray for them or help out, but we must focus on God's movement, His everlasting Kingdom, that's where our focus should be. Morning, noon, and night, let's keep our eyes on Jesus. And let's steer clear of those who are more interested in using these events to build their own platforms rather than focusing on what truly matters. Jesus!