See this star? Would you believe that it came from this picture?

Can you find it? There’s so many stars and so much detail that it is nearly impossible to find it. NASA just release this image not too long ago, and I definitely encourage you to check it out. You can zoom in and see things that you otherwise wouldn’t have been able to.
It’s a great metaphor for God isn’t it? His grace is so abundant, just like the galaxies. His power and love is so perplexed, just like the deepest parts of space. His hands are so crafty, just look at the beauty of the stars. All of these things are so similar that one would assume God has a thing for space. Look at these verses:

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1

He determines the number of the stars; He gives to all of them their names. Psalm 147:4

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:3-4

The heavens were among the first things that God created, and it was beautiful. There was no surprise He was fond of them. He made something that we are still exploring and trying to understand, and He named each of the stars. He used them to show signs, guide people, and proclaim his handiwork.

Space is so vast that it’s a great concept for God. Was the picture up above the entirety of space? Did I fit all of the galaxies into one image? No, of course not! I cannot say the same either for the small amount of knowledge I have about the Lord. I cannot claim that I know everything about God and life. We often constrict God into this box of things we know. We question why He lets certain things happen, or why He does not intervene on other problems. We like to fix and micromanage the major manager. We cannot do that. Just like space, God is so much more than what we see and know.
His grace,
His love,
His mercy,
His power,
His knowledge.
Everything about the Lord is even more abundant than the heavens that He loves.

Psalm 8 had the same idea. The heavens above us radiate the craftsmanship of God. Like the painting of a famous artist, He placed each and every star and planet in the exact places He wanted them. God gave them names and cherished them. How then can He look at us? We are a creation as well, but we have our faults. We do not just revolve and exist. We love and fight and make friends and make mistakes. We sin.

But as similar as the heavens are, they were not made in the image of God. He looks at us, and He sees something more beautiful than the galaxies. He sees a glimpse of Himself and the art of something alive.
Jesus never died for space, but He died for you.