Our reading: Psalm 8 and Hebrews 2:5-9

As a young girl, I shared my Uncle’s enthusiasm for learning about stars and looking up at the night sky to pick out constellations. He even had a few telescopes that we could use on a clear night to see something more special like the moon or a visible planet in better magnification. I also loved visits to the local planetarium which left me mesmerized and in awe of the beauty of outer space. 

Perhaps I am a bit nerdy,  but this enthusiasm has carried over to continued interest in the cosmos and the more I learn, the more my faith is solidified. I particularly love learning from the Christian astrophysicist Hugh Ross about all of the amazing findings about the vast cosmos that point to the necessity of a Creator and also a Creator with a particular love and interest in the human race. 

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.”   Psalm‬ ‭8:1‬ 

Hugh Ross has written many books and has a website that gives amazing detailed explanations of all of the fine tuning in the Universe that makes life possible for you and I. But I just want to briefly share a few quotes that give broader, more general context.

• Astronomers determine that the entire observable universe contains at least 200 billion galaxies. 
• The total number of stars in the observable universe adds up to about 50 billion trillion.
• One reason the universe must be so massive is that life requires it. The required fine-tuning is so extreme (one part in a quadrillion quadrillion quadrillion quadrillion) that if one were to remove or add a single dime’s worth of mass to this vast cosmos, the balance of the observable universe would be thrown off and physical life would not be possible. Such amazing fine-tuning suggests the involvement of a supernatural, superintelligent Creator.
• For humans to possibly exist in the universe, not only must the laws of physics and the universe as a whole be exquisitely designed, but also the cluster of galaxies, the galaxy, the host star, the planetary system, the host planet, and the host planet’s moon in which the humans reside.

Apparently David also had an enthusiasm for looking at the heavens and he saw the majestic sovereign hand of God. In fact, his awareness of how majestic God was made him marvel that God cared so much for mere humans who, in contrast, seem to be such a tiny, seemingly insignificant part of the universe. 

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.”  Psalm‬ ‭8:3-5‬ ‭

Earth is definitely small compared to the vastness of the Universe but it’s incredibly unique as well as it’s inhabitants. Every year more planets are discovered in our solar system, but out of over 5,000 known to date, Earth is the only place where conditions allow intelligent life and advanced civilization. Our human existence  is humbling and mind boggling all at the same time. 

“Rather than seeing ourselves as insignificant specks in the immensity of the cosmos, we can consider that immensity an indicator of our worth. It seems the Creator invested a great deal—a universe of 50 billion trillion stars, plus a hundred times more matter, all fine-tuned to mind-boggling precision—for us.”- Hugh Ross

Reflection:

1. What makes you aware of God’s majesty and puts you in awe of His love for you? 
2. Do you agree that the fine tuning of the Universe points to an intelligent designer? How does that impact your faith? 

Prayer: Father, we thank you for every amazing discovery that points to your grand design in creation and also how much you value and love us! We are humbled and honored by how magnificently you made us and how precisely You fashioned the vastness of the Universe to sustain us.  It makes us want to proclaim to the world “ How majestic is your name in all the earth! “