It is the time of year that the magnificent constellation of Orion can be seen from most places on earth. We have observed it with Philippine, Ugandan, and US children. I have sketched the constellation in frigid temperatures when it shown above a tree adorned with light powdery snow. We have studied it with children in tropical heat. I have pointed out bright white Rigel and flaming orange Betelgeuse on either side of the three-star belt to hundreds of people. My wife, a new observer, gets excited every time she sees the constellation.
Then I consider the Orion Nebula, one of several nebulae that can be seen with the naked eye. Binoculars show a beautiful cluster of stars around the white “puff” of stellar clouds. Telescopes reveal more of the beautiful shape. Astro-video with a small scope causes the colors to explode. One of my dozen quick sketches of the nebulae shows some of the shapes and colors of the object.
It is no wonder that God mentions the constellation in Job 38:31 as He pointedly questions Job’s abilities compared to His own.
Abilities? Does God have any? Or did it all happen by itself with no direction or oversight as most of the books say? As God said to Job in the Bible, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” All of man’s assertions about origins ignore the eye-witness account that is so plain, so they make God a wimp. Is He that weak?
It is recorded that a group of men let a paralyzed man down through a roof to get him near Jesus Christ (Luke 5:19). They wanted their friend to be healed. The paralyzed man really wanted to be healed. Jesus pulls a surprise after seeing their faith and forgives the man of his sins. The Pharisees went nuts because only God can forgive sins. So, Jesus asks them which is harder: to forgive sins or to say “rise and walk.” Notice the words that Jesus says: “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he said to the man who was paralyzed — “I say to you, rise, pick of your bed, and go home.” The man was healed and walked out.
Four years ago, my wife had a badly torn rotator cuff in her right shoulder that was instantly healed as she raised her arms to worship without thinking. Now she raises both arms to look through binoculars to see the magnificent details of the Orion constellation.
Think on this. The Master of the Universe is responsible. He is no wimp. He can create on a dime, choose to heal in a second, and forgive sins.
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To study the God of creation and take a hard look at who He is, download the free App. Look for the hand emblem on the cwm4him.org site or go to the Play Store and hunt for “Creation Study” or the more elaborate “Creation Study Helps”.
