Anyone who has stepped foot in my office can tell you I have a thing for space. While most of the stuff in my office is Star Wars related, my interests are not exclusively sci-fi themed! I have a deep love and fascination for space and spaceflight. I have LEGO models of the Saturn V Rocket (the same rocket that took men to the moon), the Lunar Lander, and the International Space Station. A friend even gifted me with a newspaper from the time of the Moon Landing that I still need to display! Space has always been so interesting to me! Some of my favorite memories as a kid are looking through my Dad’s telescope and seeing the wonders of the night sky.
Speaking of telescopes, this entire article is primarily based on one of NASA’s newest technological feats: the James Webb Space Telescope. On December 25 last year, NASA launched this new telescope into orbit. Since then, the telescope has been calibrated and adjusted to do its job as perfectly as possible. Finally, just a few weeks ago, the first images from this telescope were released. If you have not seen them already, I strongly recommend you do so! The photos taken have captured a new sense of the beauty of the universe that previous telescopes have never been able to produce. The colors, the number of stars and galaxies, the complexity of our universe—it’s truly breathtaking to behold.
However, what I find interesting and ultimately saddening about new technologies like the James Webb Telescope is that so many look to these images to prove the universe originated so many billions of years ago. Really, it seems like the vast majority of the scientific community today is set out to try to do everything in their power to prove anything OTHER THAN God. That being said, we as Christians have the luxury of seeing these images differently. While the world searches for the answer to where everything came from, we can simply bask in the extraordinary evidence of our God.
Just as Paul says in Romans 1:19-20—“that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse” (NASB). God has not made it difficult for us to find Him and know Him! All we have to do is look around us! Paul even notes what we can learn about God from His creation. First, we can know His eternal power! Whether we look at the beautiful galaxies and nebulas that James Webb captures or the smallest cells we can examine under microscopes, we are incapable of creating anything. We can’t make galaxies—no matter how hard we try! God was able to do it with a word. His creation shows His power!
Along with that, Paul says we also can see God’s “divine nature.” While we cannot physically see God, we can certainly learn about His character in what is around us. Take one look at some of the images I’ve told you about, and you’ll see God’s beauty and order. Take a moment to step outside and hear the breeze blowing in the trees, and you’ll know God’s peace and comfort. Look at the relationship between a mother and her newborn child, and you’ll see God’s tenderness and care toward His people. Creation gives us a perfect glimpse into who it is we have the opportunity to serve and live for day by day!
As Christians, we can take great joy in the discoveries being made worldwide or even in our vast universe! With each new image or breakthrough, we have the opportunity to see our God and know Him! At the same time, this leaves us with a significant responsibility—to help others to see Him and know Him too! While we may find that a bit more of an intimidating undertaking, we don’t need to worry. Knowing how great our God is really isn’t hard. All it takes is opening our eyes and taking a look!
If you want to check out some of the images from James Webb, check out this link: https://webbtelescope.org/news/first-images/gallery
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