THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE
Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. Rev. 21:3, R.S.V.
"Imagine that the thickness of this page represents the distance from earth to sun (93 million miles, or about eight light-minutes). Then the distance to the nearest star (4 1/3 light-years) is a 71-foot-high sheaf of paper. And the diameter of our own galaxy (100,000 light-years) is a 310-mile stack, while the edge of the known universe is not reached until the pile of paper is 31 million miles high--a third of the way to the sun!"--National Geographic, May, 1974, p. 592.
Our eyes can read these words; our lips may even repeat them to someone else. But when it comes to fully comprehending such enormous distances, such vast measurements of matter and emptiness, our minds go numb. It is so far beyond us as to make us feel almost silly, standing on this microscopically small planet, looking outward to a virtually endless universe.
Yet one truth jumps out beyond even these stunning measurements of space. And that is that the God who created it all has taken an almost consuming interest in this planet. What is more, this preoccupation with earthlings is not warranted because of any thrilling virtue on our part. Indeed, it appears that it is our very foolishness, our self-chosen helplessness, that has drawn out His attention the most. To ask "Why?" is to phrase in one word a question that will take an eternity to answer, for such is the measurement of the love that motivates it.
But that is not all. This is no temporary interest in this planet, to be "set back into perspective" once all our problems have been solved. God's attention will not simply pass on to more pressing and worthy matters once redemption has been accomplished for mankind. The promise of Scripture, as recorded in today's text, is that God is going to relocate headquarters! He is going to move in with us! The dwelling of God shall be with men.
But the amazement still doesn't stop, for there is every indication that this anticipated move on God's part is something that will bring Him great personal delight. In it is not one hint of condescension, not a trace of reluctantly fulfilled duty. When Jesus became man, that was a down payment, an acted pledge, of God's joyful intention to spend eternity with this human race. Don't you just love our Father!
Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. Rev. 21:3, R.S.V.
"Imagine that the thickness of this page represents the distance from earth to sun (93 million miles, or about eight light-minutes). Then the distance to the nearest star (4 1/3 light-years) is a 71-foot-high sheaf of paper. And the diameter of our own galaxy (100,000 light-years) is a 310-mile stack, while the edge of the known universe is not reached until the pile of paper is 31 million miles high--a third of the way to the sun!"--National Geographic, May, 1974, p. 592.
Our eyes can read these words; our lips may even repeat them to someone else. But when it comes to fully comprehending such enormous distances, such vast measurements of matter and emptiness, our minds go numb. It is so far beyond us as to make us feel almost silly, standing on this microscopically small planet, looking outward to a virtually endless universe.
Yet one truth jumps out beyond even these stunning measurements of space. And that is that the God who created it all has taken an almost consuming interest in this planet. What is more, this preoccupation with earthlings is not warranted because of any thrilling virtue on our part. Indeed, it appears that it is our very foolishness, our self-chosen helplessness, that has drawn out His attention the most. To ask "Why?" is to phrase in one word a question that will take an eternity to answer, for such is the measurement of the love that motivates it.
But that is not all. This is no temporary interest in this planet, to be "set back into perspective" once all our problems have been solved. God's attention will not simply pass on to more pressing and worthy matters once redemption has been accomplished for mankind. The promise of Scripture, as recorded in today's text, is that God is going to relocate headquarters! He is going to move in with us! The dwelling of God shall be with men.
But the amazement still doesn't stop, for there is every indication that this anticipated move on God's part is something that will bring Him great personal delight. In it is not one hint of condescension, not a trace of reluctantly fulfilled duty. When Jesus became man, that was a down payment, an acted pledge, of God's joyful intention to spend eternity with this human race. Don't you just love our Father!
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