During my freshman year of college at the University of Colorado, I took an astronomy class. I do not remember all of the constellations we learned or much of the science, but I do remember my first day in that class. Gathered in a large amphitheater lecture hall, lights down, we gained a different perspective of ourselves: looking deeper and deeper into space, beyond galaxies and stars, we began to see how incredibly large our universe is and how infinitesimally small we were. To say the least, I felt very insignificant. Making matters worse, I also attended my first introductory philosophy class and basic environmental chemistry class on the same day. Already feeling microscopic, my other professors questioned the origins of my human existence and whether I had a God at all! I walked back to my dorm room incredibly frustrated, feeling like nothing. Perhaps you have experienced similar questions and doubts of who you are and who our God is. It does not take a lecture from a public university science class to make that happen. Every bit of our lives outside of Eden is frustrated by sin. In Genesis 15:5b, God answers our frustration from His perspective. God tells Abraham, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.... So shall your offspring be."
Who is this God we have? Our God can number all the stars in the universe and yet He comes to us as He came to Abraham. Our God comes down to be one of us, infinitesimally small, "conceived by the Holy Spirit," as an infant, "born of the Virgin Mary," according to the Apostles' Creed. Jesus is our infant king, God's promised heir, our foretold Messiah. Jesus comes to us, takes our insignificance, our lowliness, our nothingness, and proves His love for us. Tonight, come outside with me and look into the heavens. God has numbered you like the stars, oh, children of Abraham!
THE PRAYER: Most awesome and holy God, You alone create and sustain us. As we await our Savior's Second Coming, strengthen us in faith by the grace that has made us Your children through Your Son's first Advent. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Written by Pastor Christopher P. Asbury
Grace Lutheran Church
Norfolk, Nebraska
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