NASA astronaut Gene Cernan is known as the last man to walk on the moon. In 1972 he was the commander of Apollo 17. He and his crew voyaged to the moon and spent 22 hours exploring the lunar surface. When asked what it’s like to stand on the moon, Cernan responded, “Looking back to see the earth in all of its fullness and beauty was like looking out from God’s front porch.”
The sight of planet Earth in a cold black sky so profoundly affected Cernan that years later he would reflect, “I’ve seen a small portion of God’s creation” and “If we could put everybody on that spot for five minutes, the earth would be a different place.”
It would be amazing to take in the view from “God’s front porch.” But we don’t have to go to the moon to know there’s a Creator behind the stars. Looking into the vast night sky as he stood on the surface of the planet Earth, the psalmist David found himself just as convinced. He wrote, “O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! . . . I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place” (Psalm 8:1,3).
David wrote that the “skies” tell of their Creator in a way that would persuade anyone who listens: “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” (Psalm 19:2-4).
The next clear night you have in your small part of the universe, look up and “listen” to what the stars have to say about the Creator-God who set them in place.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 6:41-71
More:
Read Deuteronomy 4:19 and consider what it means to worship the God who created our amazing universe.
Next:
What does your heart “hear” when you gaze up into the skies? How does the design of the cosmos point to our Creator?
Gary Shultz on July 19, 2015 at 6:25 am
There is something about the night skies; when we get to pear beyond the earths atmosphere and see the largeness of our creation. I like that. I like that our God makes big claims for He is a God of largeness in all that He does. Even in the work of our souls He is a God of largeness beyond what I can imagine. Nothing bigger, nothing better, nothing will arise larger than our loving God, who created us to be like stars for His glory. Thanks
taurusianfeminist.wordpress.com on July 19, 2015 at 2:42 pm
God’s creation is so awesome. My pathology lecturer defined science as ‘unravelling what’s in God’s mind’ *geeky smile*
Ruth O'reilly-smith on July 20, 2015 at 12:46 am
Jeff, your illustration reminds me of hiking with my dad – he would always climb to the highest point and admire the view from on top. As a city girl, I love getting up as high as possible, away from the noise down below, in order to re-connect with the still, small voice of our awesome God. In Romans 1:20 we read that, “ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”
Regina Franklin on July 20, 2015 at 12:02 pm
Living in the country, the stillness of the stars not only reminds me of His greatness but also of the pertinent truth you identify–sometimes the greatest spiritual pursuit I can undertake is to be quiet and listen.
Winn Collier on August 1, 2015 at 7:15 pm
Our family’s had a few hikes in the Rockies this summer (a 14er and a couple high mountain lakes). I think we’ve had a few seats on God’s porch. It’s been amazing.