THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

We can die, animals can die, and plants can die. Stars can also die, and when it does, it usually explodes, sending various elements into the cosmos, creating a super bright light. Recently scientists just spotted a supernova—the huge explosion of a dying star—that has broken all previous records. Do you want to know how bright the explosion was? It was 20 times brighter than the 100 billion stars in the entire Milky Way galaxy! It was as bright as 570 billion suns!THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

We can die, animals can die, and plants can die. Stars can also die, and when it does, it usually explodes, sending various elements into the cosmos, creating a super bright light. Recently scientists just spotted a supernova—the huge explosion of a dying star—that has broken all previous records. Do you want to know how bright the explosion was? It was 20 times brighter than the 100 billion stars in the entire Milky Way galaxy! It was as bright as 570 billion suns!

When I read that, not only was I amazed by the immense power of light beamed by this exploding star, I was also astounded by the gigantic size of the universe. As you know our earth is a tiny planet in a galaxy—billions of stars held together by some gravitational force. Do you want to know how many galaxies there are? There are about 100 billion galaxies in our observable universe, which means that’s not even the final count! And, one more thing: this huge star that just exploded was about 3.8 billion light-years away!

There are a number of ways to define eternity. To me, eternal is, in short, “there is.” When we think this is it, there is going to be. When we think there is no more, there is more. The universe bears the testimony that God, the creator of the universe, is eternal. There is going to be and there is more. When we think this is it, God opens a new way. When we think God has blessed us enough, there is more blessing to come. There is always more, with God.

Oswald Chambers says, “The one thing for which we are all being disciplined is to know that God is real. As soon as God becomes real, other people become shadows. Nothing that saints do or say can ever perturb the one who is built on God.” Yes, when we really know—and believe in—the reality of the eternal God, all is well.

Pastor Paul

When I read that, not only was I amazed by the immense power of light beamed by this exploding star, I was also astounded by the gigantic size of the universe. As you know our earth is a tiny planet in a galaxy—billions of stars held together by some gravitational force. Do you want to know how many galaxies there are? There are about 100 billion galaxies in our observable universe, which means that’s not even the final count! And, one more thing: this huge star that just exploded was about 3.8 billion light-years away!

There are a number of ways to define eternity. To me, eternal is, in short, “there is.” When we think this is it, there is going to be. When we think there is no more, there is more. The universe bears the testimony that God, the creator of the universe, is eternal. There is going to be and there is more. When we think this is it, God opens a new way. When we think God has blessed us enough, there is more blessing to come. There is always more, with God.

Oswald Chambers says, “The one thing for which we are all being disciplined is to know that God is real. As soon as God becomes real, other people become shadows. Nothing that saints do or say can ever perturb the one who is built on God.” Yes, when we really know—and believe in—the reality of the eternal God, all is well.

Pastor Paul