Psalm 19:1-3, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard.”
The heavens celebrate God’s glory. His wisdom and power are on display as we look above. Each day is a testimony of God’s existence and authorship of the world.
On December 21st, for the first time in hundreds of years, the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn will be the closest to Earth since 1623, and closest observable since 1226 (EarthSky). According to nbcnews.com/science/space/christmas-star, “The double planet view is also known by some astronomers as the “Christmas Star” because of a belief that the biblical tale of the Star of Bethlehem could have been a planetary conjunction”.
Although the heavens, and day and night, are unable to speak, they bear a silent witness to God’s glory. They represent the power and magnificence of an almighty God. Each of us, when we look to the sky, sees God’s majesty and the expanse of His creation. Consider all the languages in the world. We are unable to understand every dialect in all nations. However, the sun, moon and stars speak a universal language of God’s power, which is understood by all.
“No nation, or people, saith that wise and learned heathen, Tully, is so barbarous and sottish, as, when they look up to the heavens, not to perceive that there is a, God, or to imagine that those things are the effect of blind chance, which are made with such wonderful art and wisdom, that it requires extraordinary art to understand their excellent orders and course.” Matthew Poole’s Commentary (Tully was a Roman statesman and orator remembered for his mastery of Latin prose (106-43 BC), WordWeb)
All are without excuse. The picture of God’s celestial heavens directs our eyes towards His power and creation. Without sound or words, they speak to man’s heart of their Creator. David, the Psalmist, was a shepherd and spent much of his time outside. He saw God in the nature around him and in the sky above him.
Picture a beautiful sunset, or the rising of the moon on the darkest of nights. Do you see the magnificence of God in His creation? When you see His works, do you ‘hear’ His creation’s praise, even without words? Silence speaks loudly.
“The sunset was one of the most glorious I ever beheld, and the whole earth seemed so still that the voice of neither God nor man was heard. There was not a ripple upon the waters, not the leaf of a tree, nor even of a blade of grass moving, and the rocks upon the opposite shore reflected the sun's "after glow," and were again themselves reflected from or in the river during the brief twilight, in a way I do not remember ever to have beheld before. No! I will not say the voice of God was not heard; it spoke in the very stillness as loud as in roaring thunder, in the placid scene as in rocks and cliffs impassable, and louder still in the heavens and in the firmament, and in the magnificent prospect around me. His wondrous works declared him to be near, and I felt as if the very ground upon which I was treading was holy.” The Treasury of David, quote by John Gadsby
God directed a star in His heavens to declare the glory of Jesus’ birth. The magi knew the unusual star signified the birth of the King. Matthew 2:2, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him”.
Romans 1:20-21 says, “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. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened”.
Creator, creation, Christmas star, Christ’s birth – truth from a Biblical account or tale from man’s perspective? Choose Truth. Celebrate the gift of Jesus, given by the Creator of all things in heaven and earth, to all people’s everywhere. Eternal salvation is offered by no other means than Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 says, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved”.
Look to the heavens. Do you see the effect of blind chance or the work of an extraordinary Creator? Listen to His call in your heart. Accept His grace in your life which is freely offered to you when you place your complete trust in Him. In believing you have nothing to lose but everything to gain. If you think God is a crutch for those who are weak or less intelligent, I can imagine no better crutch to lean on than the Creator of the universe. His signature speaks loudly.
