In 1990, Edward Hubble launched his telescope with the belief that the universe extended beyond the Milky Way. It didn’t disappoint. When pointed at an empty patch of sky within Ursa Major (also known as the Big Dipper constellation) in 1995, it captured an image of 3,000 galaxies never before seen.
I wonder if any of the astronomers looking through that telescope cried, “When I look at the night sky and and see the work of your [God’s] fingers…”? David asked, while keeping watch under the night sky, “… what are mere mortals…?”
How much smaller we seem in comparison to recent scientific discoveries. A culture that believes humans are a result of a biological accident reduces our status in the natural hierarchy even more. It states we are all mere mortals trapped by flesh and doomed to perish, reproducing like other life forms across the planet.
When we look at ourselves like that, we are nothing.
But that’s not what God sees. He gave His Son to die for a people destined for both a physical and a spiritual death. Psalm 8:5 says mankind is ”only a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor.” God has placed the world under our care. He sees us as the pinnacle of His creation, with all the earth as our playground.
The next time we look up at the stars, let’s thank the God who created them and looks upon us with joy.
Creator God, you didn’t just make me, you breathed your life into me and made me for things not of this world. May I come to you for forgiveness and join your heavenly kingdom. Amen.
Go Deeper — Go out under a night sky or look at images from the Hubble telescope. How does it make you feel? Offer those thoughts as a prayer to God.
Photo Credit: Cam Adams