Beyond Amazing
On September 5, 1977, the United States launched a rocket into space. On board was a small craft called Voyager I. This probe was jettisoned into space with the purpose of exploring the planets (specifically Jupiter and Saturn). After thirty years, Voyager is the farthest human-made object from Earth. It's still going strong and is able to send back data to Earth, even after traveling ten billion miles!

To me it's amazing to consider what NASA scientists have done. It's mind-boggling that Voyager continues traveling away from us at nearly 40,000 miles per hour. It is estimated that Voyager will have enough energy to communicate with Earth until 2020. Man can truly do incredible things when he puts his mind to it!

Of course, all of this is absolutely puny when compared with what God Almighty has done. Sending a manmade ship out ten billion miles isn't so impressive when one considers the vastness of the Universe God created. Scientists estimate its size at over 93 billion light years across. That is, it would take light (traveling at 186,000 miles per second) at least 93 billion years to travel from one end to the other! Ten billion miles isn't so far after all, comparatively speaking. It's certainly nothing to brag about--not anymore than traveling to the second floor of the Empire State Building would be anything to boast over. We have barely begun to explore the vastness of God's creation. We're just scratched the surface, so to speak.

Every small step, advancement, and discovery by mankind should continue to put us in absolute awe of God's power and creativity. We should always be reminded of just how small and insignificant we are in the larger scheme of things when we think of the Universe that Jehovah has made and maintains by the power of His word (cf. Heb. 1:3). Psalm 102:25 records - "Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands."

Voyager has left the realm of one star (i.e., our sun) to approach others. We can't even dream of counting all the stars, but the Lord knows them all by name (Isa. 40:26). This should not surprise us since He made them too! Exploring the Universe is amazing, but being able to worship and serve the God who made it all--that's beyond amazing!

"Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness" (Psa. 29:2). "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water" (Rev. 14:7).