Holy Name

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Acts 3: 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. (NIV)

I was watching the news this morning and a saw a video of Stephen Hawking, the great physics professor from England, floating through the air inside a diving airplane. Hawking is an amazing person. He’s been a paraplegic all of his life and can only converse with other people via an electronic device. He has fought against all sorts of hurdles to become a prominent scientist. He is esteemed throughout the civilized world as a remarkably talented genius. He now wants to go up in a rocket and become the first wheel chaired person to go into space. I hope that he fulfills his dream.

There is, however, a side of Hawking that remains paralyzed within him. He has no belief in God and can be quite vitriolic against those who have faith. Stephen doesn’t think that the universe was created, but that it just happened by accident. I guess he feels that the same fate, which saw him born with no speech or mobility, caused the Cosmos to spontaneously appear. Perhaps if I was in his shoes, I would feel the same.

I wish that he could find God, for I believe it would have an immense impact in the world. I hope that if he gets up into space, he will undergo a spiritual awakening and discover that beautiful gate which will lead him to our Creator. It would be a wonderful event and could begin a renaissance of faith throughout our society. I think I’ll pray that it happens, and that Jesus of Nazareth will enable Stephen Hawking to walk in His Light.

Christ has the power to release us from all that paralyses our hearts and minds. Throughout the Book of Acts in the Bible, people are liberated from sickness and despair, madness and corruption, prejudice and pain. The first apostles understood how powerful Jesus was, and that by merely speaking His Name, people were healed. Perhaps it’s time that the Church reclaimed this power.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your Name is holy and sacred, precious and wonderful. We have forgotten that the gift of Your Name has the power to forgive our sins, restore our lives, and heal our sicknesses. Grant us the courage to reclaim the strength of Your Name. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Star Trekking

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Isaiah 40:26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. (NIV)

I must confess – I am a Trekkie fan. I love Star Trek and the many shows and movies that it has spawned. I record re-runs on my television and usually watch them during dinner or when I can’t sleep at night. I love the idea that one day humanity will travel the universe and visit other stars. I don’t if there is life in other parts of the universe, and whether or not species like Klingons exist, but just the thought of journeying through the cosmos excites me.

That’s also one of my visions of the after-life. Heaven for me will be an endless sight-seeing trip of the whole universe. Since God created such a spectacular cosmos filled with billions of galaxies and stars, then why shouldn’t heaven include a spiritual cruise of everything that God has made? Surely, it would make us praise Him even more to see all of His creation? At the moment, we see the universe through a dark glass and massive stars are just mere specks of light. When we finish our journey here and enter into Christ’s glory, it may just be the launching pad for an everlasting experience of the wonders, majesty, and beauty of God.

I really hope so and if, according to scripture, God knows the stars and calls them each by name, don’t you agree that He will be delighted to show them one by one to His eternal children?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, the stars at night reveal the power and glory of Your creation. They please us with flickers of light in the midst of darkness, and with the assortment of shapes that they make in the night sky. Thank You for such wonders in our lives and for the way in which their existence touches our spirits with awe, reverence, and love. In Christ’s Holy name, we pray. Amen.