Tuesday, November 25, 2008

as if God needed anything...

I searched the internet and figured out the earth we live on weighs about 5.972 sextillion (1,000 trillion) metric tons. That’s 5,972,000,000,000,000, 000,000 tons.

It has a circumference of 24,901.55 miles and holding about 6.66 billion people.

Try to get your arms around those numbers.

The sun is about 93 million miles away from earth. While the earth is maintaining its perfect distance from sun (though it's orbiting the sun in an elliptical shape), its rotating in a constant speed (23 hours and 56 minutes and 04.09053 seconds) in its own axis as well. Among these numbers I want to throw one more, which kind of blew my mind away: The star that is closest to earth (after sun) is about 25 trillion miles away. Remember, there are countless number of stars including those which cannot be seen with naked human eyes.

In other words, we have no clue what is out there!

With the limited human intelligence this is what the scientists have figured out so far: the nebula (or the galaxy) containing an average of 100 billion (1011) solar masses, ranging in diameter from 1,500 to 300,000 light-years.

[1 Light Year = 5878171478565.179 Miles]

Okay, okay, I wouldn't even try to do the math :)

This is just a little bit of information about the universe around us, but this puts me in profound veneration for the Being who created these and placed it in its own perfect places. I would stop and take a deep breath and try to sink this that the Most High created these with mere words in His mouth - 'let there be...'.

I can’t imagine the vastness, the unknowns, the infinity, the awesomeness of the universe. When I stand still and look up in the sky, I feel small. I fall into an unexplainable ecstasy and overwhelming reverence when I look at the diversity in His creation from the tiny shrubs in my backyard to the 5.972 sextillion metric tons 'mud-ball' hanging in nothingness.

Let’s say anything above the blue sky is part of heaven. This is what the Bible says:

'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.’ – God (Acts 7:49)

As a man with two legs on the ground at a time, I am not occupying more than a square feet of ground. Out of my foolish ignorance and arrogance, can I even think that God needs something from me, whose throne is heaven itself?

"However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says: " 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things?' - Acts 7:48-50

What kind of a building can I possibly build to invite God to live in it?

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else." - Apostle Paul (Acts 17:24-25)

Does it sound like a blow to prideful man who thinks God needs his money, service, skill, education, ministry or time?

God do not need us or our service, but here is the good news: He wants us! Yes, the same God who said 'Heaven is my throne and earth is my footstool' wants to have a relationship with us! Why would He leave His glory in heaven, come down to earth as a dirty carpenter, born in a manger in a tiny town called Bethlehem? So that we can relate to Him! Even the lowest of the lowly among us can relate to Him.

Apostle Paul continues in Acts 17,

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

That is what God wants from us - that we would seek Him and find Him and to be His offspring! And live in Him, move in Him and have our being in Him!

STOP trying to serve Him; just be in Him! That's enough! He will do the rest... Just be His precious child. Stand still and know that He is God. Rest in Him. Relax...

(Happy holidays to all. We are off to New York for few days to visit family and friends...)

14 comments:

Joel Brueseke said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Bino, to you and your wonderful family. You've just given us a few trillion reasons to be thankful... :)

Anonymous said...

Bino,
Beautiful post! This reminds me of a Bible Study session I did long ago where our leader showed slides of different planets stars, solar systems, etc and read off their distances and features of each. The magnitude and vastness of it all brought all the more awe of our Papa! And, now, still takes my breath away that I...we...have intimate relationship with the very God of the Universe and all!! Thanks be to Christ Jesus!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving my friend!

Blessings,
~Amy :)

wayyyne said...

just b! He's got it under control!
thank you

Jamie said...

Have a marvelous Holiday, Bino, and safe travels!

I love that the God who spoke all the things you mentioned into existence knows how many hairs are on my head! We are so extravagantly, ridiculously adored and kept by God. That cross idea was really something! Reconciled to my Dad! :)

Maureen said...

Oh wonderful post Bino! So much in creation to be in awe of. God has truly made Himself known to us. Praise Him that He opened our eyes that we would see our need of Him, Who has no need at all of us.

Aida said...

Great post, Bino, and very encouraging.

I hope you're having a wonderful time with family and friends. Just curious. Where in New York did you go?

Leonard said...

Bino, I haven't printed in a day or so, so I just now read this.

Thank you for the lessons my friend,

{NO BONES ABOUT IT !!!}

ps. in the end, I always tell on my friends and family, for some reason, I just cant help myself.

Love ya Bro.
Leonard

Ike said...

Bino,
After eating all day you can make that 5,972,000,000,000,000, 000,000 tons... plus 20 lbs.??

Bino M. said...

Thank you all for the wishes, prayers and comments! Hope you all had a great Thanks Giving. We had a great time in New york. The temperature was in its 50's and the turkey was great! :) We also visited my sis-in-law in Philadelphia, PA. Kids had great time with their cousins.

We made a the 11-12 hrs drive from Detroit to NY a little less tougher by putting a portable DVD player in the car... Kids loved it!

Joel - May be we can spend the rest of our lives, just thanking Him?

Amy - Yes, the magnitude and vastness of this universe always fascinates me.

Wayne - Amen!

Jamie - Thank you!

Maureen - He opened our eyes that we would see our need of Him, Who has no need at all of us. Amen!

Aida - Thanks! My cousins live in various places in NY (Long Island, Queens and Fishkill), but we primarily went to Fishkill this time where everybody gathered together. Did you live in NY?

Ike - :) May be not 20 lbs, but at least 5-6 pounds for sure!

Bino M. said...

Leonard - Sorry I left you out when I responded to all. I know, you know that it's not intentional.
Glad that there wasn't any bones you found in it :)

Leonard said...

Sniff,,,,Sob,,, Insert throat clearing and nose blowing sounds Here....
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Golly Bino, I didn't even notice....

Aida said...

I was born in The Bronx and we moved to N. J. when I was six years old. I've been to various parts of N. Y when I lived up there and I've also been to Philadelphia.

I'm glad you had a good time and ate well. Welcome back.

Bino M. said...

Leonard - LOL!

Aida - Thanks! For some reason, I love New York and NY city. It's the U.S city I have visited more times than any other...

getting there said...

Wonderful post Bino!