In 1996 (and again in 2004, with improved technology), the Hubble Telescope was pointed at a seemingly blank dot of space where conventional telescopes revealed no galaxies, stars, or planetary systems. Ten thousand galaxies were discovered in the apparent nothingness, each likely possessing hundreds of billions of stars.
Allow the enormity of those numbers to bewilder you (remembering that the area of space viewed by the Hubble is no bigger than a dot when viewed through a normal telescope). Then think of God, and become far more stunned, amazed, awed, enraptured, and filled with wonder. Because vast and multitudinous as creation may be, the greater truth is that the Creator simply spoke to make all things.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:1-3).
The power of our Lord's word in making all things proclaims how much greater He is than His stunningly immense creation. He also maintains the universe by "the word of His power" (Hebrews 1:3). Thus, to think of the God of the Bible, or to utter a word about Him, or to consider His person and truth, is a consideration we can never make lightly. Little wonder that Israel of old wouldn't even attempt to utter His name. Little wonder that Isaiah and John fell down before Him "undone," and "as dead" (Isaiah 6:5; Revelation 1:17). Little wonder that hundreds of millions of angels throng the throne of God to incessantly proclaim His greatness (Revelation 5:11). And little wonder that every born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ experiences times when it becomes all too much for us, causing us to bow our heads, knees, and hearts in a silent wonder of rapture.
All this being true, I nevertheless find that another aspect of God's truth causes me to even more experience "silent wonder."
"Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger... His name shall be called Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, "God with us" (Luke 2:12; Matthew 1:23).
Perhaps if I were wiser, I wouldn't write another word, allowing your heart to be thrilled by the thought that creation's Creator took upon Himself the relatively infinitesimal form of a human baby. I will therefore simply add that that in eternity to come, when the universe has been redeemed and purified, we will doubtless be able to explore its vast reaches to discover the infinite glory of God that will shine from every galaxy, solar system, world, and atom. Far more wonderfully, however, the sons and daughters of God in Christ will be escorted by the Holy Spirit on an eternal exploration of the heart, mind, and being of the glorious Creator who simply spoke, and a universe beyond our capacity to measure came into being. He is also the One who entered into that creation as a tiny baby, and who died for it as a humble man. Yes, let us join our hearts in silent wonder...
"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable."
(Psalm 145:3)
"Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart."
(Matthew 11:29)
No comments:
Post a Comment