When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Psalm 8:3-4
Mortals have walked on the moon and sent robots to Mars. Does this familiarity with space make God's creation any less spectacular? Hardly! This is another case of the more we know, the more we realize we don't know. Outer space is so vast that we cannot possibly comprehend the magnitude of it. How great a creator was needed to create such a vast universe? Oh Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Modern scientists have also delved deeply into inner space. The complexity of the structure of matter is just as amazing as that of outer space. How brilliant a creator was needed to create the matter which constitutes our universe? Oh Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Scientists sent “Spirit” to Mars so that they might learn more about the origins of life. We are only beginning to understand the nature and origins of life. The analysis of the human genome showed us that the complexity of life makes it the crowning act of all creation. Psalm 148 demands that not only humans, but all of nature praise the name of the Lord. We must remember that we are only part of creation. This is not only our home, but the home of all life.
In Psalm 8, we are told that God made mortals a little lower than the angels and put them in charge of all creation. However, let us not forget that everything has its place in the order of things. Not only humans, but the lowliest of plants and animals are part of the ecological milieu in which we find ourselves. Indeed, those who have been put in charge are also responsible for the survival of the planet. If we use more than our share of the earth's resources, and bankrupt the future of our grandchildren, we are not obeying the charge God gave us.
Let us also remember that God's dwelling place is not somewhere beyond the stars. The creator lives within creation. God lives in the stars, the mountains, the seas, the rocks, the plants, the animals as well as in our hearts. A loving creator, who did not abandon the universe to its own fate, God is the redeemer, creator and sustainer of all that is. Oh Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Prayer: Creator God, we bow to your majesty. You have not only given us life, but a crown of glory and honor. We confess that we have not always been honorable in our tenancy here on your earth. We have been greedy and taken what is not ours. Forgive us for not living up to our role as caretaker of your creation. Give us the courage to speak out when your planet is raped for personal greed. Oh Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. Amen.