Big World, Big God
By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
03/14/2021
Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:20-22)
The 1998 hit movie The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey, tells the tale of a man who lives an ordinary life only to discover that he is an unwitting actor in a television show. His entire world exists on a production set and everyone in his life is an actor. It is a fascinating movie that touches on many dystopian themes that are becoming reality in the twenty-three years since it was released. Yet, The Truman Show also illustrates the fact that we are not alone in this big world, and the universe does not revolve around us.
Years ago, I had the opportunity to go snorkeling near the Colombian Reef off the coast of Cozumel. It was my first experience snorkeling and it was mind-blowing. I saw blue fish, yellow fish, brown fish, stripped fish, long fish, short fish...I am starting to sound like Dr. Seuss, but you get the point. As I drifted across the surface of the ocean, awestruck by the underwater scenery, it occurred to me how vast God’s creation is. We have barely scratched the surface of all that there is to be explored in the depths of the sea.
Sometimes our view of the world can become anthropocentric. That is, we see ourselves as being the center of the universe. If we are not careful, we can develop a tendency to think that the world needs us to function properly. Yet, the reality is there is much more that goes on within the realm of God’s creation than we ever realize. It is indeed a big world; and our God is a big God! It is amazing when you stop and think about it. To be sure, mankind is the highest pinnacle of creation, but there is so much that is beyond our control and even beyond our knowledge.
Every second of every day, while we go through the motions of our circadian lives, billions of sea creatures are eating, and dying, and swimming, and doing what sea creatures do. Likewise, the skies are filled with birds doing what birds do, largely outside the realm of our consciousness. The Bible tells us, Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” (Genesis 1:20)
My experience snorkeling gave me a renewed perspective in life. It reminded me that life is much bigger than I am. Thankfully, however, God is much bigger than life. Take comfort in that fact today and rest in the knowledge that God loves you and cares about you personally even in the midst of an abundance of living creatures.
03/14/2021
Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:20-22)
The 1998 hit movie The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey, tells the tale of a man who lives an ordinary life only to discover that he is an unwitting actor in a television show. His entire world exists on a production set and everyone in his life is an actor. It is a fascinating movie that touches on many dystopian themes that are becoming reality in the twenty-three years since it was released. Yet, The Truman Show also illustrates the fact that we are not alone in this big world, and the universe does not revolve around us.
Years ago, I had the opportunity to go snorkeling near the Colombian Reef off the coast of Cozumel. It was my first experience snorkeling and it was mind-blowing. I saw blue fish, yellow fish, brown fish, stripped fish, long fish, short fish...I am starting to sound like Dr. Seuss, but you get the point. As I drifted across the surface of the ocean, awestruck by the underwater scenery, it occurred to me how vast God’s creation is. We have barely scratched the surface of all that there is to be explored in the depths of the sea.
Sometimes our view of the world can become anthropocentric. That is, we see ourselves as being the center of the universe. If we are not careful, we can develop a tendency to think that the world needs us to function properly. Yet, the reality is there is much more that goes on within the realm of God’s creation than we ever realize. It is indeed a big world; and our God is a big God! It is amazing when you stop and think about it. To be sure, mankind is the highest pinnacle of creation, but there is so much that is beyond our control and even beyond our knowledge.
Every second of every day, while we go through the motions of our circadian lives, billions of sea creatures are eating, and dying, and swimming, and doing what sea creatures do. Likewise, the skies are filled with birds doing what birds do, largely outside the realm of our consciousness. The Bible tells us, Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” (Genesis 1:20)
My experience snorkeling gave me a renewed perspective in life. It reminded me that life is much bigger than I am. Thankfully, however, God is much bigger than life. Take comfort in that fact today and rest in the knowledge that God loves you and cares about you personally even in the midst of an abundance of living creatures.
No Comments