General Theology
The Center of Creation
by Jimmy Hopper
In the extraordinary Sunday School series now playing at Riverwood, Faith and Science, Bob Thornton and Allen Powers spoke of the time in which it was proven that the universe didn’t revolve around the earth, as the religious dogma of the day believed. In fact, science now speaks of the complete insignificance of the earth; a dot of protoplasm swimming in the Pacific Ocean. Science says that there are probably many earths which support life, and the entertainment world has certainly bought into this idea, from Superman to Star Wars to the X-Files. Even C. S. Lewis conceded this possibility with his space series but indicated that, if they exist, God created them for His own glory even as He did our earth. Recently I came across a fantastic picture from the NASA web site that would seem to indicate the rather pitiful insignificance of the earth in the vast oceans of space.
This is a picture of an eclispe of the Sun by Saturn. It was taken from the Cassini space probe and it outlines the incredible beauty of the rings. As beautiful as it is (“The heavens declare the Glory of God”, I thought); one of the most interesting things about it is that it is a view of earth from behind Saturn. Look closely at the upper left outer ring of Saturn and you will see an infintesimal little light blue dot. This is our earth that Christians believe was created by God and upon whom live His chosen people. It could not possibility be more insignificant, could it?
The truth is that the world really is the center of the universe, the reason for its existence. No, the universe doesn’t physically revolve around the earth, as was believed in the Dark Ages, but the ordered beauty of the heavens does exist because the earth exists. And the earth exists because God conceived of and created it as a platform for our existence. If you are a Christian, the smallness of the earth in the vastness of the universe is a matter of joy and delight. It speaks of our importance, His people’s importance, in His eyes. This is the God who “Chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; the weak to shame the strong; the lowly, the despised, the things that are not to shame the things that are.” Man has determined the vastness and the power of the universe, and despises the lowliness of the earth and the God that made it; and yet this claim will also be shamed.
In his book, “Orthodoxy,” G.K. Chesterton ends with the idea that God has hidden something that He hasn’t revealed in any place. He revealed many things through Jesus’ incarnation but hid this from our view. Chesterton wonders if the hidden thing wasn’t God’s mirth. If Chesterton is right, this idea, a source of pride to men who think they understand; this idea of the unimportance of earth and of man almost appears to be a manifestation of God’s mirth.
Posted by Jimmy Hopper at October 31, 2006 01:38 PM
Jimmy, Great photo and reflection. The predominant question that rolls to the front of mind when I read this was: “Now, tell me, again, why did He do this?” And you captured it beautifully….”for his own glory.”
Wow. Jimmy, that’s just absolutely profound. Thanks for posting that.
Okay, so a little off your topic, but if we accept the idea that heaven is going to more like our physical existence now than the common idea of angels playing harps, etc, do you think that we will get to explore the universe in eternity? I could be totally off base, but if there is a new earth, then is it out of the realm of possibility that we will get to further explore God’s creation once we have been glorified? How cool would it be to spend a couple of millenia cruising around the andromeda galaxy checking out planets and stars? Psalm 19, indeed!
Parker, not so much off that topic given my though process this morning during my river walk (see a blog entry to come) about how the earth was created. Did God will it into being in a final state (before the flood) or did he bring matter into being and cause upheaveals etc. to sculpt it? How wonderful it will be to know, if it is ever given us to know.
You probably know my idea (from the Revelation study?) about our future life but I believe that there will be a new earth; that our physical bodies will be resurrected (from numerous passages) and that the perfect universe will be created for man, body, mind and spirit, to live in again, this time forever in harmony with God.
Cruising the galaxy would be great but there will also be a new heaven as well as a new earth so who knows, but I contemplate knowing what I will be given to know with a big grin on my face this morning.