GSR: Humans as Tiny Specks on a Pale Blue Dot
CEH Editor asks, “How
can God care for us tiny
specks in a vast universe?”
It’s an important question to theists and atheists alike: Do we matter in the enormous universe revealed by modern science?
The Bible focuses on human beings, and treats us as exceptional – the crown of God’s creation. But science has shown that we are mere specks on a speck orbiting a speck within a speck of a galaxy. Were the Bible writers unaware of how big the universe is? The facts of astronomy can shake the faith of believers, and lend support to atheists who argue that human beings are insignificant – an afterthought of an immense, ancient universe that could not care if we live or die.
CEH Editor David Coppedge, creator of a show called “How Big Is God?” that he showed over 300 times at churches and schools, and leader of over 40 star parties since the 1980s, has thought long and hard about this question. He shared his thoughts with David Rives on the Genesis Science Network this week. What if modern science, he asks, can actually support the Biblical view of human exceptionalism?
After watching the video clip (about 11 minutes), scroll down for an additional thought that did not make it into the video due to time constraints.
See also Illustra Media’s short film “Big Universe. Bigger God” for a glimpse into how vast the universe is. An imaginary spaceship takes you to the distant reaches of space!
David Coppedge’s print article “How Big Is God?” written for ICR in 2006, is online here.
Additional thought:
The Biblical doctrine of God’s omnipresence can provide comfort and understanding on this question. By omnipresence, we mean that ALL of God is present at every point in space and every moment in time. God is not “spread out” across space and time so that we only have access to a portion of his mighty power and love. By implication, no matter how small we are, we have complete access to all He has to offer us. God is, in effect at our fingertips and the tip of our tongue. This gives new “scientific” meaning to the phrase Immanuel: God with us.
An important text about omnipresence can be found in Psalm 139:
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 sheds practical light on this important attribute of God:
11 “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
The Apostle Paul quoted this Scripture in his invitation to receive the Lord Jesus Christ:
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:5-10)
Application: For those who trust God’s word and have accepted this invitation, the omnipresence of God provides comfort. The fullness of God is as near as an unspoken prayer no matter the circumstance. He knows our ways and thoughts, and is able to guide and lead us as our Good Shepherd (see Psalm 23, Psalm 139 and John 10). For unbelievers, the omnipresence of God should make one fear. There is no place to hide. He knows our ways, and will bring every evil thought and deed to judgment (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
Addendum: The title song for the multimedia show “How Big Is God?” was taken from Stuart Hamblen’s song by that title. It includes this concise and memorable answer in all its childlike simplicity, “He’s big enough to rule His mighty universe, but small enough to live within my heart.” Watch this recording as sung by the late Gregory Loren, who made this his signature song at concerts. The 1961 performance was accompanied by the Ralph Carmichael Orchestra and Chorus.