Goodness.

The events of the last few years have caused some to ask deep questions: what are we meant to do in this life? Is there a purpose for all this? Is anyone out there? Are we reeling out of control? And . . . Is God real?

I want to tackle that last question, “Is God real?” How do we know? Where can we start?

Three thousand years ago, an ancient sage asked the same questions we are addressing today, and one of the answers he received was bound in the stars. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1).

On camping trips, I relish a twinkling encounter with the night sky. How grand a vista it is when excessive artificial light is sequestered from the scene and the panorama of heavenly bodies just sparkles.

Why are we so amazed when we look up at the night sky and see the Milky Way? Why does this capture our attention, cause us to just cease for a moment and gape at the clusters of luminaries? Those millions and billions of stars and galaxies are there for our enjoyment - Yes! But there is more. Psalm 19 says they’re also there to let us know God is real: “The skies proclaim his handiwork.” This was produced by our Divine Creator.

The stars and the Milky way don’t actually say something that is verbally attuned to our ears. But they do communicate to our eyes and imaginations. We gaze at the heavens, the stars and galaxies in the night sky; it's intriguing. Why? Psalm 19 says they are the brushstrokes from God’s immense power and creativity. They are his handiwork. He put them there for us to ponder – to ponder the energy necessary to create even one star and keep its furnace functional for days and years and millenia. Then move beyond one beacon of starry light to the billions and trillions of stars. It's astounding when you veritably track the energy output of what is visible in the night sky. That is from the goodness of God.

The Heavens [the sun, moon, stars, galaxies, nebulas, meteors, et al.] are giving us a speech in non-verbal form saying that God is real.

Psalm 19:1-6 ESV

“The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

2 Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

3 There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,

5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,

and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,

and its circuit to the end of them,

and there is nothing hidden from its heat.”