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Nov 10, 2024 06:00am

Shining Like Stars

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It was my first time being a counselor for camp, but definitely not my first time enjoying Camp Cherokee. I was 17, and I was so excited that I was allowed to stay at this beautiful spot in the middle of nowhere for an extra week.

My first week was spent as a camper, choosing my activities carefully, making sure I got the most fun out of my week, choosing activities my friends would also be enjoying with me. My favorite activity was swimming. There was an amazing dock. We would start at the edge where the wood met the dirt, run with all of our might, and cannonball into the beautiful lake.

That activity was much different as a counselor. The second week, my fellow counselor and I shared responsibility of keeping a bunkfull of junior high girls alive and accounted for. The swimming area brought much more anxiety from my observation seat. I continually feared I would have to let the youth pastor know that one of my girls had busted her head on a dock, had jumped out and never resurfaced, or that I had just lost someone. Thank the Lord, none of those catastrophes actually occurred.

This camp was truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, and I’ve seen quite a few beautiful spots in my 44 years. The beauty of this camp was in its remote location. It has been many years since then, but I seem to recall riding a bus to a certain point, then riding a boat to the actual camp, even further away from the hustle and bustle of real life.

Both as a camper, and as a counselor, the best part of the entire week was the last night of the week. We all went to a huge bonfire for a worship wrap up night. I felt like I could have sat around that fire, singing forever. After we wrapped things up, the fire was extinguished, and we all took some time to look up at the stars. I don’t think I have ever seen a sky so clear. There was 0% light coming from any city. It was one of the most glorious things I have ever seen. A whole campful of teenagers, and then pre-teens, sat silently, staring at the sky until we were forced to peel away at bunktime.

This week, I was wrapping up in Daniel, and a verse jumped off the pages and took me back to Camp Cherokee. Daniel 12:3 says, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”

I read, listened, and watched commentaries and sermons that mentioned this verse. There were a few ideas about it, but what I ultimately found came to a basic conclusion-As Christ-followers, we have access to the Holy Spirit, Who allows us wisdom when we ask for it (James 1:5), and we are petitioned by God to take the gospel, to lead many to righteousness. (Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”).

In a world full of darkness, with people searching for hope and purpose, God urges us to lead many to righteousness…which we can never find apart from Him. (Philippians 3:9, “and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith.”) When we live out the gospel and lead many to righteousness, we shine brightly like stars in this world. I pray we are able to reflect Christ in such a way that encourages those who are in complete darkness to stop in their tracks and take notice.