Space, Sagan, and Solomon

“The universe is a pretty big place. If it’s just us, seems like an awful waste of space.” – Carl Sagan

Carl Sagan’s observation of the vast expanse of the universe betrays his own denial of God. Even if there were distant colonies of green men with large heads, what of the massive waste of space in between? Besides, why would it be a waste?

The truth is space is not a waste, but a declaration of God’s glory (Psa 19:1).

Knowing that the heavens were created by God, Solomon accepted their testimony of the greatness of the Creator God.

God is everywhere. There is not a place we can go where he is not.

In heaven God is there, in hell God is there. If we were take a shuttle to the farthest place we can now observe in space God would be there (Psa 139:7-9).

This describes God’s omnipresence. He is all places at once.

The largeness of the universe, and the fact that we have not yet found its boundaries testify of the greatness of God to be in every place and beyond every thing.

Without the vast universe, we may be tempted to think of God as something more like ourselves, whose greatest accomplishments consist of pyramids and travelling to a nearby moon.

That a pale blue dot in the middle of the oceans of space contains life is a testimony to the precision and the care of God toward us (Psa 139:12-17).

Sagan and Solomon responded differently to the heavens because one was trying to glorify God, and the other was trying to find anything but God to glorify (Rom 1:21).

Sagan found a waste of space. Solomon knew a great God.

When you hear the word of God, you hear the truth (Rom 10:17). When you are listening for anything but God, you hear nothing.

For His glory,

Justin “listen carefully” Johnson