It is one of the great follies of humanity to worship the creation rather than the Creator. Consider this as it relates to the stars. Some have bowed to them as gods, ascribing deity to that which is only material. Others, though not bowing to them, have looked to them for counsel and prediction; they have embraced the superstitious notion that just as the stars can be used for navigation, so they can also be used for personal guidance. Still others look at the stars as great phenomena, which speak of a naturalistic universe and an ultimately meaningless existence. In our modern day, all of these beliefs thrive, and people erroneously look to the things that are made rather than the One who made them. The scriptures call this an abomination.

But the avoidance of one error must never be allowed to lead us into another. The scriptures do tell us that the heavens speak (Psalm 19:2), so we must ask, what truth do they communicate? What signs do they contain now and in the future? In answer to these questions, consider the stars in five ways. First,

--As a witness to God's nature. "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1). They testify to the existence and power of the One who is transcendent, to the greatness of the One who is incomprehensible. They show forth His magnificence, and by what is clearly seen in them, we know the invisible attributes of Him (Rom 1:20). And although "there is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars" (1 Cor 15:41), they altogether cry out in witness to the majesty of God.

But we are told that the same heavens, which now declare God's greatness, will become a sign of the end of this present world. Consider the stars also, then--

--As a herald of the final judgment. The laws by which God ordinarily governs the universe would allow it to continue long; but even so, the universe will not die of natural causes. John wrote, "I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind" (Rev 6:12-13). Many have speculated concerning the details of this occurrence, and much more error than truth is taught on the subject. But ignorance of the details does not detract from the certainty of the event. We may not fully comprehend what it means for the stars to fall to the earth, but would not every rational human being agree that it is judgment? Need we know how they fall? Need we concern ourselves over whether any scientifically explainable phenomena could ever cause such a thing, or whether these are really the stars or meteors or asteroids in view? Look at the words following: "And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?'" (Rev 6:15-17). The lesson is that God will come in judgment, and on that Day, humanity will seek to flee but be unable. They will wish for protection but not find it. There will be no distinctions among mankind, for the small and the great, the male and the female, the Jew and the Gentile, the slave and the free will all be brought before God. And who is able to stand on that day? Yet there is hope, for we may also view the stars--

--As a sign of the Redeemer. Here we must remember another star--the star that led the wise men to a birth more than two thousand years ago; the birth of the One who is greater than the stars, greater than angels, greater than man, greater than all things seen and unseen; the birth of the One who made them all and who reigns supreme over all. And although the stars pale in significance compared to Him, they are the greatest radiance to which He may be likened. Therefore, He Himself is called "the Bright and Morning star" (Rev 22:16), the One of whom Balaam prophesied more than a thousand years before His incarnation: "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel" (Num 24:17). While He was on earth, the Apostles saw Him transfigured so that His face shone like the sun (Matt 17:2); and when John saw Him in the Revelation, "His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength" (Rev 1:16). He is the Lord Jesus Christ. To Him, the sun and the stars bow down, and all the heavens confess that He is Lord.

To you who do not know Christ, know that He is able, by His great power, to make you a new creation. He can take away your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh (Ezek 36:26). But you say, "That is not my need." How wrong you are! Look at the heavens again, and hear scripture say, "If even the moon does not shine, and the stars are not pure in His sight, how much less man, who is a maggot, and a son of man, who is a worm?" (Job 25:5-6). You need a change that cannot come from your own will or effort but from God alone. You must, as the scriptures say, be born again (John 3:3-8). "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Cor 5:17). And if it would be so with you, it must be by that same power that made the stars. "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor 4:6). And to this, the stars testify--

--As a promise of God's Kingdom. God said to Abraham, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them. So shall your descendants be" (Gen 15:5). So God did physically. He made Abraham into a great nation so that "from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude--innumerable as the sand, which is by the seashore" (Heb 11:12). But there is a greater fulfillment of this promise: Those who are Christ's are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise (Gal 3:29). They are a nation comprised of all peoples and tongues, and their descent from Abraham is not by blood but by faith. Their citizenship is in heaven, from which they eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil 3:20); and "as living stones," they are "being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 2:5). And the stars give us a glimpse of their final state, for the stars may also be seen--

--As a precursor to the future. Although glorious, the creation is running down. The stars are gradually burning out; the planets are gradually cooling off; the orbits are gradually decaying. Everything we see before us in heaven and earth is wearing away--some things quickly, some things slowly, but all things surely. The laws of entropy, decay, and death are at work, and in this sense, the creation, though marvelous, groans under the consequences of man's sin (Rom 8:22). But God will dissolve the current creation by fire (2 Pet 3:12), and He will create a new heaven and earth (Is 65:17). "For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God" (Rom 8:19-21). And what we know as the sun today gives us a glimpse of what will be for believers: "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matt 13:43).

If you would like to receive further information concerning these matters, please contact Joseph Montalto.