A Spear of Light: Comet 3I/ATLAS
The Battle to Rise Again
This weekend, I rented time on a remote telescope located in Namibia, South Africa, to image comet 3I/ATLAS. The structure of this interstellar object has changed significantly over the last few months; it is now piercing the heavens like a spear of light. Its luminous tail stretched across the stars, not as a gentle brushstroke, but as a bold declaration. It didn’t drift. It is charging across the vastness of space like a weapon that can only be wielded by the creator of the universe, God.
This interstellar visitor, only the third known object to enter our solar system from beyond, carries with it a message not just of cosmic wonder, but of spiritual defiance. It reminds me of the piercing truths of scripture, of light that breaks through darkness, of weapons forged not to destroy, but to awaken.
In John 19:34, we read that “one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.” It was a moment of brutal finality, and yet, it became a symbol of redemption. That piercing wasn’t the end. It was the beginning of restoration.
Comet 3I/ATLAS, with its radiant tail slicing through the void, evokes that same paradox: a wound that becomes a witness. A rupture that reveals glory.
Isaiah 49:2 says, “He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of His hand He hid me; He made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in His quiver.” Sometimes, we are the comet, launched from distant places, shaped by trials, concealed until the moment we’re called to blaze across the sky.
There have been seasons when I’ve felt crushed, by failure, by fatigue, by the weight of dreams deferred. But this interstellar wonder reminds me: even when you’ve traveled far, even when your trajectory seems uncertain, you can still blaze. You can still pierce the night.
Psalm 18:28 declares, “You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” That’s not passive illumination. That’s active ignition. That’s the kind of light that fights back.
3I/ATLAS is not just a scientific marvel; it’s a spiritual metaphor. It’s a reminder that we are not bound by the gravity of defeat. We are visitors in this world, sent with purpose by a God who loves us, and we are piercing across the lives of others with brilliance and grace.
When I look at this image, I don’t just see a comet. I see a call to rise. To fight. To let the light within me pierce through the chaos. To be a spear in the hand of the Redeemer.
So if you’re weary, if you’ve stumbled, if life has tried to crush you, look up. Let the heavens remind you: you were made to blaze. You were made to pierce the night.
Until next time, keep looking up!
-g