Who Has Your Trust?

The recent photographs of galaxies, solar systems, and stars from the Webb Telescope are fascinating. The images test the imagination of what exists in the universe. If creation is that amazing and immense, the Creator must be exponentially more! (Here is a link to the Webb Space Telescope Gallery - https://webbtelescope.org/news/first-images/gallery) By nature, the Creator must be outside of the creation in the same way an artist is connected to their art but is outside their creation. God is outside creation but is intimately aware and concerned about his creation. God did not create and then remove himself from creation. He has stayed intimately involved. Jesus told the crowds following Him, “The hairs on your head are all numbered.” (Matthew 10:30 ESV) When he taught the disciples about prayer, he told them not to “babble on and on” because “the Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!” (Matthew 6:7-8 NLT) King David realized he could not hide his thoughts from God, since God knows our thoughts. “You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. … You know what I am going to say even before I say it.” (Psalms 139:2-5 NLT) The Gospels describe Jesus’ knowledge of people’s thoughts. “Jesus knew their thoughts …” and “Jesus knowing their thoughts …” and “He knew what was in a man …” Adam and Eve’s disobedience and rebellion against God could be described as FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). They were told eating the fruit of the tree would open their eyes, and they didn’t want to miss out. Fear is one of the first emotions described in the creation account. But Jesus told the disciples to “Not be afraid …” because the hair on their head was numbered. God is grander than everything the Webb Telescope is revealing yet aware of every hair on your head. You do not need to be afraid. Nothing that happens in your life or in the universe takes God by surprise. Take a deep breath, grab God’s hand and tell him, “I’m trusting you! Thank you for caring for me.”

The Heavens Proclaim the Glory of God

If you have not taken the opportunity to look at the recently released pictures from the Webb telescope, you should. The pictures are from the farthest distance in space. They are only the initial pictures shot while technicians test the equipment. There will be many more amazing pictures to come. The Webb telescope can see 13.8 billion light years into space. King David declared, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.” Psalms 19:1-4 (NLT) I’m always amazed at the precision of creation making life possible. Our solar system is where it needs to be in the Milky Way to enable life. Our star is the exact type of star for carbon-based life. Planet earth is in the inhabitable zone, sometimes called the “Goldilocks” zone. If earth were a minute distance closer or farther from the sun, life would be impossible. The location and orbit of the moon create weather patterns and tides that sustain and replenish life. Because of the pitch of the planet, life thrives on much of the earth. The location of Saturn and Jupiter stabilize the solar system and prevent space debris from destroying the earth. I could go on and on about the wonder of the precision that makes life possible on earth. As some have said, “it would take more faith to believe this all happened by chance than to believe there is a Creator.” Man is constantly searching, listening and hoping to find intelligent life in the universe and make contact. Contact has already happened. Jesus came to reveal the intelligence, God to you. The real visitor from beyond the heavens is Jesus. He visited earth 2,000 years ago and is still active in lives across the planet. Why do people search for intelligent life and yet turn away from Jesus? The Apostle John proclaimed, “Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” John 1:14 (NLT) “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command.” Hebrews 1:3 (NLT) You don’t need to look any further than Jesus. He is the intelligent life sent by the Father to reveal the character of God to you and me.

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

The Declaration of Independence includes the famous words “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” describe the “inalienable rights” given by God to all men. The Declaration of Independence never said happiness was an inalienable right, but the inalienable right is the “pursuit of happiness.” People pursue happiness through money, possessions, self-medication, other people, accomplishments, pleasures, conquests, and domination. The pursuit of happiness often leaves people empty and unsatisfied. 1,600 years ago, Augustine, perhaps the most influential theologian in church history, wrote “Every man, whatsoever his condition, desires to be happy.” 300 years ago, French philosopher and mathematician, Blaise Pascal, wrote, “All men seek happiness. This is without exception.” C.S. Lewis wrote about the pursuing of happiness in his famous book, Mere Christianity. “Over the centuries, men have tried to invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside of God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history – greed, poverty, selfish ambition, war, prostitution, classes, brutal empires, slavery – the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” “The reason why it can never succeed in this? God made us; invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else. God designed humans to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way, without bothering to have a relationship with Himself. God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” Lewis’ words echo Saint Augustine’s famous statements from Confessions. “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” God created you and me to find rest in Him. When we rest in God, happiness and peace can be ours. King David said the same things this way “I will be happy because of you; God Most High, I will sing praises to your name.” Psalms 9:2 (NCV) God is the source of happiness. Don’t seek happiness from some other source. Other sources will only disappoint you. God, teach us to seek completeness in you! AMEN

Faithful Follower of Jesus

The section of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5:1-12, is known as “the Beatitudes”. Reading the Beatitudes is instructive and challenges the reader’s heart. They are as powerful as any words ever spoken. However, the release of transformative power occurs not just when read, but when acted upon. The power is in the “doing.” Jesus declared God blesses those who realize their need for him, those who mourn, are humble and merciful. He blesses those who have pure hearts, and work for peace. Jesus wraps up the Beatitudes proclaiming that God blesses those who suffer, mocked, lied about, and have evil things said about them because they have done right and are following him. God doesn’t just bless anyone who suffers, mocked, lied about, and has evil things said about them. The believer is not rewarded for being a loud and obnoxious jerk. The believer is not rewarded for run-of-the-mill hardships or for self-inflicted struggles. Christian’s love to label every hardship as an “attack.” “If you are talking about your Christian faith in a feckless way, a tactless way, an abrasive way, a culturally inappropriate way, and people oppose you, don’t say, ‘I am being persecuted for Jesus’ sake.’ No, you are being persecuted for your sake. If you are being obnoxious, the promise of blessedness doesn’t hold.” (Tim Keller, Faith in the Wilderness, Forward) God blesses those who go through these hardships because they do right, and because they are following Jesus and His teachings. Jesus told his followers they should be happy when they face hardship for staying true to Him and His teachings. Those who encounter struggles, hardship and suffering because the way of Jesus is counter to culture have a great reward waiting for them. Follow Jesus’ teachings and example, the reward waiting for you will be worth the “light momentary affliction” from those who don’t like the stance you take or your faithful following of Jesus. (2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV) Remain faithful to follow Jesus when everyone around you is going in a different direction.