Paul said comparing ourselves by using ourselves and others like us as a paradigm is not wisdom, but foolishness.
“Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!” ( II Corinthians 10:12, NLT)
I like to take short walks around our property at night, enjoying the solitude of the darkness, illuminated only by the billions of stars and the moon. Genesis says God gave these for lights to rule the night, and for signs and for seasons.
Scientists say that there are around 100 thousand million stars in our own Milky Way, and the Universe has more than 100 billion Galaxies.
In my walks, my dog Buddy is busy sniffing out the smells of the night, running off here and there, catching up on the nightly news left by the different scents of those who may have trespassed his territory, but always coming back to stay close by me. When I stop and stare up into the vastness of space, Buddy seems to sense the Divine of the moment, and stops and sits or lies down beside my feet.
I like to think maybe he, too, can sense the Holy Presence of God in these moments of contemplation. I do know that the animals were at peace with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, in the Presence of God as He walked and communicated with them in the cool of the evenings; and that God will restore this blissful state during the Millennial and New Earth when He reigns as King of Kings over his creation.
As I meditate and pray to my Maker during these quiet moments of time, I feel very small as I think about the great size of the Universe compared to the size of this earth. I think of all the billions of people engaged in various activities around the globe, and wonder how many are reaching out to Jesus Christ as the Creator of all things.
The nightly news keeps us informed of the many who are involved in exalting their own selfish agendas in all levels of society. Hollywood and the Music Industry promote all forms of self-seeking behaviors that deny the holiness and purity of our Creator. Scientists manipulate the Genome of man and animals, defying God’s declaration that kind should only bear fruit after its kind.
All of these newsworthy people are comparing themselves, among themselves, without ever looking to the Creator for His direction or His approval. Paul says this is ignorance and that the wisdom of man is foolishness with God. (I Corinthians 1:25) The wages of sin is death, and sin does take its toll on the sinner; as you can see it in their eyes and on their faces.
C.S. Lewis said, “Let’s pray that the human race never escapes from Earth to spread its iniquity elsewhere.”
Martin Luther said, “God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.”
God created man in His Image; and man has insisted on breaking fellowship with Him by seeking his own selfish lifestyles, corrupting his God-likeness into the likeness of animals and demons of this world.
Only when I compare myself with the vastness of His Creation, and acknowledge how small I am to Him, will I be able to experience how great His Love is for me, causing Him to die in my place as the Lamb of God, and calling me His son; a Son of God. (I John 1:12 & 3:1)
Take time to click on the following to get a new glimpse of just how small you are while standing on planet earth in comparison to the rest of the Universe.
| Earth in True Perspective |
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