The human race has accomplished many magnificent things over the centuries. We have built great buildings, explored every continent, learned how to fly, and conquered many diseases. We have even landed man on the moon. Because of these accomplishments, we humans tend to think we are significant and powerful. The reality, however, is completely different. Let’s take a look at the fourth day of creation and put our existence into proper perspective.
First, let’s create some context. Genesis 1:1 tells us that God created the universe and the earth. Genesis 1:2 tells us that the earth was originally dark. Genesis 1:3-5 tells us that God created light. Then, Genesis 1:14-19 tells us what God did on day four. Read this account of day four and think about the size of the objects that God created on that day.
Gen. 1:14-19 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also. God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
The greater light refers to the sun. The lesser light refers to the moon. This means that God created the sun and moon. The text also tells us that God created the stars. Think about the size of each of these objects. Think about how big the universe has to be in order to hold all of these large objects. Then think about how tiny we are compared to the sun, the moon, and the universe. Think about how little we know about the universe despite centuries of gazing at the stars.
Yes, the human race has accomplished many things over the centuries. However, when you think about the big picture, all of humanity combined is tiny and insignificant compared to the universe. Furthermore, despite centuries of learning, our knowledge of the universe is still very primitive. Despite our insignificance, God, the Creator of the universe, knows you and I by name and He cares about us, our successes and our problems. Therefore, when we ponder the vastness of the universe, we should realize how insignificant we are, we should be in awe of God who made it all, and we should be thankful that God the Creator knows us and pays attention to us, even though we are nothing.
The perspective that we should have about ourselves was captured very well by David in Psalm 8.
Psa. 8:3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
Psa. 8:4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?
Psa. 8:6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,
Psa. 8:7 All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field,
Psa. 8:8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
Psa. 8:9 O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!
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“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.”
