God and the Stars

Have you ever wondered why we’re so enamored with the stars? Is it their light? Is it their distance? Their awesome size? What draws our gaze to them? Maybe it’s something supernatural…

What makes up a star? “…stars are big exploding balls of gas, mostly hydrogen and helium..." according to the Northwestern University website.

The periodic table shows us that a hydrogen atom has an atomic number of one and a helium atom has an atomic number of two. Added together bring the value to three—the number of persons in the Trinity.

Right now, we’re just scratching the surface. Let’s look deeper into these elements and atoms in general and see if there are any other mysteries to be found. “Atoms make up all the matter around us including ourselves… (atoms contain) three smaller particles…called subatomic particles.” (from the Green-Planet-Solar-Energy website) These subatomic particles include neutrons, protons and electrons, another Trinitarian symbol using three.

Neutrons are the largest and have no charge, while the protons are smaller with a positive charge. Electrons are the smallest and maintain a negative charge. “The protons and neutrons are clumped together in the middle of an atom and the electrons orbit around the outside.” (from the GPSE site) If you follow the link, you can see how the electrons orbit the neutrons and protons. The shape is a never-ending circle, symbolic of God as He was, He is, and will ever be.

The hydrogen atom itself mirrors our relationship with God in a number of ways. First, this element with the atomic number of one reflects our one God. Secondly, hydrogen also enjoys the unique position that it is the most abundant element in the universe and is present in water and in all organic compounds, reflecting that our God is present in His creation. What a wonderful thought for us!

How hot are the stars?

“Scientists think that the core of our Sun (relatively cool by scientific standards) is a 15 million degree Celsius plasma, a soup of electrons and protons that are stripped from hydrogen atoms. This ‘soup,’ called plasma, makes up 90 percent of the Sun. Every second, thousands of protons in the Sun's core collide with other protons to produce helium nuclei in a nuclear fusion reaction that releases energy. Just outside the core, energy moves outward by a process called radiation.” (Northwestern U.)

Symbolically our God is on fire for us. He sends us heat everyday that kisses our skin and all of earth’s creation, reminding us of His undying love.

Are we drawn by the Trinitarian nature in creation? Is that why we look up to the stars?

What a gift nature is for us! And in understanding more about creation, we learn more about our God. And when we learn more about our God, we begin to grasp His love and His great plans for us. Enjoy the wonder, feel the Love.