Last week NASA published an article entitled "NASA’s Webb Delivers Deepest Infrared Image of Universe Yet". One can read this article and see the picture it is about here: https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2022/nasa-s-webb-delivers-deepest-infrared-image-of-universe-yet
The article says:
Webb’s image is approximately the size of a grain of sand held at arm’s length, a tiny sliver of the vast universe.
That picture of "a tiny sliver of the vast universe" contains dozens and dozens of galaxies, each of which contains a myriad of stars. (Astronomers estimate that the galaxy in which we live, the Milky Way, contains between 100 billion and 400 billion stars.)
When you look at it, think of those facts with what the Bible says about the Lord Jesus Christ:
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 (AV/KJV)
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
—Colossians 1:16–17 (AV/KJV)
And [God said to His Son], Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
—Hebrews 1:10–12 (quoting Psalm 102:25–27) (AV/KJV)
These facts may cause us to feel insignificant before Him:
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
But we may not feel insignificant if we think of how He visited us:
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
—John 1:14 (AV/KJV)
The Word visited the son of man as the Son of man (Matthew 18:11; Mark 10:45; Luke 9:56; John 3:13)!
For even though Solomon, one of the sons of David, spoke rightly when he said:
But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?
[. . .]
But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!
—II Chronicles 2:6 and 6:18 (AV/KJV)
Yet it is true that God became manifest in the flesh as the Son of David, and did dwell with men on earth, and was contained not only in a house, but, at His birth, in a manger--and offered up Himself as a sacrifice for sins (I Timothy 3:16; Matthew 22:41–46; Luke 2:7; Hebrews 9:24–28)!
And if this is true of Him:
He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
—Psalm 147:4 (AV/KJV)
Then surely it is also true that He knows not only the number of us, but knows each of us by name, too.
Thus we see good reasons for the Scriptures to say that both His glory and His mercy are "above the heavens" (Psalms 108:4 and 113:4).
Furthermore: if this is true of Him:
Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.
—Isaiah 48:13 (AV/KJV)
Then surely it is also true that we should heed Him and respond to Him when He calls us.
And if this is true:
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
—Mark 13:31 (AV/KJV)
Then surely it is also true that we should heed, believe, and trust all of His words.
And if the following are true:
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
—Psalm 19:1 (AV/KJV)
The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
—Psalm 97:6 (AV/KJV)
Then surely it is also true that we should declare His glory and righteousness.
In conclusion: surely these exhortations are right, just, and proper:
Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
[. . .]
[Praise the LORD] Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
—Psalm 148:3, 11–12 (AV/KJV)
Amen!
Questions for consideration
1. What does the fact that all things were created by Christ mean to you?
2. What does the fact that all things were created by Christ make you feel?
3. What does the fact that all things were created for Christ mean to you?
4. What does the fact that all things were created for Christ make you feel?
5. What does the fact that He by whom all things were created became one of us and dwelt among us mean to you?
6. What does the fact that He by whom all things were created became one of us and dwelt among us make you feel?
7. Do the facts related in this article affect your perception of Christ? If so, how? If not, why not?
8. Do the facts related in this article affect your attitude toward Christ? If so, how? If not, why not?
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