Almost a few decades ago, less than 30 miles west of Chicago, one could still find numerous fields of corn under a wide-open canopy of stars, and a sky much darker than it will ever be here in Los Angeles.
My interest in Astronomy probably began with a library book, but I still remember the first time I set up the small 3-inch reflecting telescope which I had sent away for. It was a cold fall night as I looked up at Jupiter, but I soon forgot about the chill as I observed its four Galilean Moons for the first time. I thought about what an experience that must have been for Galileo centuries ago. Soon I was resolving binary stars in the Big Dipper, and later viewing the beautiful rings around Saturn.
My love for the study of the solar system and the space beyond it has been comprised of intense but brief "encounters" separated by similar periods of passion for Mathematics and other sciences. Although few in number, these times have been very meaningful to me. I did, however, take the time to enjoy an introductory course in Astronomy while attending California State University, Northridge.
My life seems to contain some interesting parallels to that of Blaise Pascal, one of which has been a desire to delve into Mathematics from time to time long after committing my life to the Lord. By the way, becoming a Christian does not require you to abandon logic nor the pursuit of science!
I've also found my training in the sciences to support my faith; not to hinder it. But one must be certain to distinguish between fact and theory, between the record of history and repeatable experiments. There is much in the world today being labeled as science which upon closer examination turns out to be quite similar to the religious beliefs of many false prophets (charlatans, deceivers, frauds, scammers, etc.) claiming to speak for the Author of Scripture!
Although there are many references to stars in the Bible, including one of my favorite groups, the Pleiades (Job 38:31), the following passage, set apart in the graphic, encourages me to "press on" (cf. Philippians 3:7-14) in Christ, and to witness to others about His love for them when He died on the cross for mankind's sin:
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My pastor quoted these words (Daniel 12:3 1) after describing how he saw Christians as the "lights" (cf. Mt 5:16) in the world, who would (metaphorically speaking) become "stars" later on. |
I definitely agreed that I was looking forward to becoming a "Star-man" some day. When I needed a 'handle' for myself on a local BBS, TheStarman was the first name that popped into my mind; and it still seems appropriate.
As Christians, this world is not our home, it's somewhere "beyond the blue." Though heaven is actually in some other 'dimension,' this hope is probably why so many Believers enjoy hiking up to the top of a mountain: contemplating a time when they'll be able to leave this earth, and travel throughout the universe (and beyond!) in a spiritual body (see notes below).
I pray that the Lord may be calling you to Himself, and if you have any questions about becoming a citizen of heaven, I'll certainly try to help you.
You can email me here: Email Address
Copyright©1996, July, on the night of the "blue moon." Copyright©2001,
March, Revised.
Updated: October 5th, 2004; 22 January, 2012.
In His mercy, grace and love, "TheStarman."
1 In a recent (January 8, 2012) sermon by John MacArthur (on Romans 8:18-25), he references both Daniel 12:3 and this parallel passage in Matthew:
"Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the
kingdom of their Father."
[Matthew 13:43; NASB, 1995.]
Metaphorically, in Romans 8:19, the whole of creation (Greek: τῆς κτίσεως), whether living or non-living, anxiously expects (Greek: ἀποκαραδοκία) and eagerly awaits (Greek: ἀπεκδέχεται) the revealing (Greek: τὴν ἀποκάλυψιν) of the sons of God (Greek: τῶν υἱῶν τοῦ θεοῦ); which refers to those who've been redeemed by Him; both male and female, as is made clear by vv. 14, 15 and 21.
Creation is "waiting for the unveiling, the manifestation, the revelation of the sons of God in their full glory. And it will come: Daniel 12:3 says that we'll shine like the stars and Matthew 13:43 says we'll shine like the sun. We'll be blazing glory. The whole creation is looking for that event, eagerly anticipating it." (MacArthur)
"(14) For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. (15) For you did
not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom
we cry, 'Abba, Father.' (16) The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God's children.
(17) And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ)--if indeed we
suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him. (18) For I consider that our present sufferings
cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us.
(19) For the creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God. (20) For the creation was
subjected to futility--not willingly but because of God who subjected it--in hope (21) that the creation
itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of God's children. (22)
For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now. (23) Not only this, but
we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption,
the redemption of our bodies. (24) For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because
who hopes for what he sees? (25) But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with
endurance. (26) In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should
pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. (27) And he who searches our
hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to
God's will. (28) And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called
according to his purpose, (29) because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the
image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (30) And those he
predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also
glorified. (31) What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (32)
Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him,
freely give us all things? (33) Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. (34)
Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at
the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us. (35) Who will separate us from the love of
Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (36) As it
is written, 'For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.'
(37) No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! (38) For I am convinced
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to
come, nor powers, (39) nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
[Romans 8:14-39; NET Bible]
Online, since July 19, 1998.
