HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED
the greatness of the universe? The more you examine the scientific findings, the
more befogged your mind will become! Astronomers tell us that the Milky Way galaxy,
which includes our earth, contains some 100 billion stars. Only 5,776 are visible
to the naked eye. Traveling at the speed of light (over 186,282 miles per second),
it would take you over 4 years to reach the nearest star and about 75,000 years
to reach the most distant star in our galaxy. To travel across the Milky Way at
the speed of light (700 million m.p.h.) would take 100,000 years! Astronomers
also claim there are almost one trillion other galaxies detected in the universe!
Traveling at 700 million miles per hour, it would take you 8 billion years to
reach the most distant galaxy ever seen! This tremendous galaxy is 10 times larger
than our own Milky Way! These numbers make us feel rather small, don't they? Is
it any wonder the psalmist said, "The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament sheweth His handywork" (Psalm 19:1).
Yes, God "telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their
names" (Psalm 147:4). In contrast, man (with all his scientific equipment)
has to confess, "the host of heaven cannot be numbered" (Jeremiah
33:22). God sees more with His naked eye than man ever can through his 80-million-dollar
telescopes!
PLANET EARTH
Another amazing thing is, that out of all the vast universe, there is only one
planet that God has chosen to be inhabited. "For thus saith the Lord that
created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established
it; He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited" (Isaiah 45:18).
Having a diameter of 7,926 miles, a circumference of 24,901 miles and a surface
area of 196,937,600 miles (of which 28% is land), this earth houses over 5 billion
humans. Suspended in space, it rotates on its own axis at 1,000 miles per hour;
at the same time, it travels through empty space at the rate of 20,936,400,000
miles yearly! Its highest point is Mt. Everest, 29,028 feet above sea level and
its lowest point the Mariana Trench, 35,760 feet below the waves of the Pacific
Ocean. Yet in spite of its greatness, the earth is not so big after all. You could
put 1,300,000 earths inside the sun, 64 million suns inside the star Antares and
several 100 million Antares inside Epsilon!
So here we are, orbiting through the vastness of space on our temporary abode
called "Earth." Every hour, 17,150 souls are born to take up residence
here, while 6,850 bid good-by forever to earth's surface, to take up residence
elsewhere. Consequently, every day mother earth has an increase in population
of 247,200 souls. Now just what is the reason for all of this movement? Have you
ever asked yourself: Why am I here? What is the purpose of it all? Where
am I going? These questions are good thoughts to consider, don't you agree?
To answer such questions, the only reliable source is the Holy Scriptures. Herein
are the Creator's answers to a bewildered and wondering human race.
WHERE AM I GOING?
God's original plan for man was that he glorify God and serve Him forever. However,
man ruined himself and his lofty position before God through sin. Sad indeed,
"by one man (Adam) sin entered
into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all
have sinned" (Romans 5:12). Consequently, the human race, instead of
being able to glorify God, is alienated from God, spiritually "dead in
trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). "For all have sinned, and
come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Consequently, mankind
is doomed to "hell fire" (Mark 9:43-48), "everlasting punishment"
(Matthew 26:46), and torment for ever and ever in "the lake which burneth
with fire and brimstone" (Revelation 14:11; 21:8), "where their worm
dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44). These Scriptures answer
the question, "Where am I going?" as far as God is concerned,
don't they?
WHY AM I HERE ?
But wait! Please read on and find God's answer to "Why am I here?"
Even though the devil would like to have you in hell, God desires that you be
in heaven with Him when you leave this old planet earth. When we consider the
magnitude of God's greatness, what grace it is on His part that He ever considers
us at all! David exclaimed, "What is man, that Thou art mindful of him?
or the son of man, that Thou visitest him?" (Hebrews 2:6). Because of
sin, we no longer see all things as when God originally created man; "but
we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of
death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste
death for every man" (Hebrews 2:9). On this earth, the Lord Jesus "appeared
to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself," At Calvary, He "offered
one sacrifice for sins for ever" (Hebrews 9:26; 10:12). Every soul that accepts
the Lord Jesus as the only sacrifice for his sins immediately comes into the good
of that sacrifice, and is saved from hell and fitted for heaven. God proclaims,
"Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more" (Hebrews 10:17).
Why am I here? You are here for a short lifetime that you might take the
opportunity to obtain God's wonderful salvation. Then you will be able to glorify
Him and serve Him, not only on earth, but in heaven throughout eternity. That's
God's desire! Are you willing?
"For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish,
but have everlasting life."
(John 3:16)
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