Light Filters

Have you seen the latest images from NASA’s James Webb telescope? They’re incredible!

Search for the latest news about the telescope, and you’ll see stunning detail of faraway galaxies that were fuzzily captured by the Hubble Space telescope earlier. Or just check out this example of comparison shots shared by NBC.

I remember Hubble being an amazing technological feat, but now its capabilities are being overshadowed by James Webb.

I never wondered about how these telescopes captured the pictures, I just figured they were super-duper high resolution lenses!

Wrong. Both telescopes capture infrared light images.

The human eye cannot see anything in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, so the telescopes use filters to turn the information into visible-to-us images.

Maybe you learned this in high school science class, but it was news to me just a few days ago!

Just think. We’re applying filters to make the invisible visible. Mind-blowing, if you ask me!

I am writing through the days of Creation this year, giving two months to each Day of Creation. I’m writing about some facet or other of light through the months of January and February.

Life Filters

Every one of us has filters we use to navigate our way through this life. Those filters help us make sense of what’s happening to and around us, but a great deal of life remains mysteriously far beyond our comprehension. Without some help, we may find ourselves floating through life with no understanding or direction.

Another name for a life filter is a worldview. For followers of Jesus, that worldview is shaped by our faith, which is in turn molded by our time in the Bible, our conversations with other Jesus followers, and our life experiences (just for starters).

We have a filter to apply to worry.

Jesus told us to trust God instead of worrying.

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” (Matthew 6:25-26).

Worry can deplete our harvest:

“The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced” (Mark 4:18-19 NLT).

We have a filter to apply to loneliness.

“The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).

“Jesus replied, ‘All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them'” (John 14:23). 

We have a filter to apply to wealth.

True wealth is not found in possessions, but in relationship with God.

“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17).

We are responsible for how we manage our resources.

“And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?” (Luke 16:11).

We have a filter to apply to love.

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).

“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike” (Matthew 5:44-45).

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you” (1 John 2:15).

There are many more filters found within the pages of your Bible that can help us interpret life and navigate our way through it, but they won’t help us if we don’t read and discover them for ourselves!

What is one way Scripture has provided a life filter for you?

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Thank you for reading along today! We are currently in February, which is American Heart Month. To help you celebrate, here’s a free printable for practicing healthy heart habits!