Texans have “enjoyed” summer weather for months. The vacation season with many “fun-in-the-sun” activities began with early June school dismissal. Yet the calendared 1st day of summer was just this past Monday. Summer is now officially here as June 21st is the day of the year with the longest period of daylight. The literal Summer Solstice is a precise moment in time when the axial tilt of the earth towards the sun is at its maximum. The term Summer Solstice, however refers to the entire day on which it occurs.
This day has no spiritual significance for most people worldwide. It is an annual cultic-style experience, however, for neo-druids and neo-pagans that assemble for sunrise at Stonehenge monument in England. Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument that has a 20th-21st century history of recreating Druidic ceremonies. It is located about 90 miles southwest of London. Built between 3000 -1600 B.C. it is a popular tourist attraction in the United Kingdom. Stonehenge has become increasingly associated with British Druidism, Neo-paganism and New Age philosophy. This past Monday, approximately 20,000 revelers greeted the midsummer sunrise with cheers, drums, tambourines, and mediation.
This cultic worship is practiced by an almost immeasurably small percentage of the population. By comparison and contrast, numerous other false gods are worshiped by a huge percentage of the population. The issue is not whether or not people worship- the question is who do you worship? To quote the noted “theologian” Bob Dylan, “you gotta’ serve somebody”. Paul addressed who people worship in his Holy Spirit inspired description of humanity. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools & exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles… They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator Romans 1:21-25
The root problem is that many people worship the creation not the Creator. Sin is the sunrise of self instead of the worship of the Risen Son. In your summer plans, enjoy the creation, including vacation “fun-in-the-sun”. Your 1st priority must however be to worship the Creator. Honor Him day by day!