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Moonquakes

Between the years of 1969 to 1972 NASA sent Seismometers with the Apollo astronauts to be placed on the moon. They continued to send back data to earth until 1979 when they were turned off. They found that the moon shakes due to various different disturbances — moonquakes. The seismometers recorded the impact of asteroids, the collapse of crater edges, tremors caused by earth’s tides, and even quakes caused by the transition from day to night, which, on the moon, is quite a swing. The most interesting feature of these moonquakes, however, was their longevity. Because the moon is a relatively solid chunk of material (unlike the earth which has a crumbly/brittle surface) the vibrations from its quakes resonated longer, like a bell as opposed to say, like the skin on a drum. While an earthquake might last up to two minutes (at the most), a moonquake might last up to ten. It’s not that the character of the vibration is any different, but rather, because the quality of the material is different. /1

This brings to mind one particular parable that Jesus told, the parable of the sower (Luke 8:4-8). In this parable, the sower scatters his seed upon different types of soil: trampled, rocky, thorny, and good. Each soil represents a different quality of heart. Some reject God’s word instantly; that’s the trampled packed ground into which the seed can’t penetrate. Some accept God’s word but because of persecutions ultimately grow weary, the stony soil. Some accept God’s word but then due to temptations of the world turn back, the thorny soil. The good soil, however, accepts God’s word and brings forth fruit “with patience” (Luke 8:15). The same seed was scattered; the only thing that was different was the quality of the soil. One persisted; two died off; one didn’t even get started.

The Bible has several things to say about persistence. Jesus said in Luke 9:62 “No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” The apostle Paul exhorted, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” The apostle Peter warned, “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.”

We live in a country in which the sound of God’s word may be heard frequently as it resonates from faithful preachers and teachers today. But whether vibration from God’s word resonates within our life or not depends upon the quality of our character. If our character is hollow, insipid, crumbly, and weak, then God’s word isn’t going to resonate very long. However, if our character is solid, clear, stout, and strong, God’s word will resonate on and on and our life will quake with His truth. Jesus said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).

1. http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/15mar_moonquakes.htm?list209831