The expanding universe

When Albert Einstein published his general theory of relativity in 1916, he changed the world of science forever. One of the most groundbreaking discoveries he formulated concerns the continuing expansion of the universe. This amazing fact reminds us not only of how vast the universe is, but also of what the psalmist said: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, patient and abounding in kindness. He will not always argue and will not remain angry forever. He did not deal with us according to our sins nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so is his mercy on those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, he has removed from us our transgressions" (Psalm 103,8-11 Butcher Bible).

Yes, so incredibly real is God's grace because of the sacrifice of His only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The formulation of the psalmist: "As far as the east is from the west" deliberately explodes our imagination of a magnitude that even surpasses the perceptible universe. The James Webb telescope delivers the first images. NASA presented the sharpest and deepest infrared image of the universe to date, opening up new perspectives on the history of our universe.

Consequently, no one can imagine the extent of our salvation in Christ, especially when you consider what it all entails. Our sins separate us from God. But Christ's death on the cross changed everything. The gulf between God and us is closed. In Christ, God reconciled the world to himself. We are invited into His fellowship as family, into perfect relationship with the Triune God for all eternity. He sends us the Holy Spirit to help us draw near to Him and place our lives under His care so that we may become like Christ.

Next time you look at the night sky, remember that God's grace surpasses all dimensions of the universe and that even the longest distances we know are small compared to the extent of his love for us.

by Joseph Tkach