"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."
~ Psalm 19:1-4
Not long ago, I visited the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum with some friends. Our time there was truly awe-inspiring; we peered through their telescopes, gazed at our moon, and even caught a breathtaking close-up view of Venus. It was an incredible experience. Moreover, an engaging presentation on Jupiter enlightened us with fascinating tidbits about the gas giant:
• If you weigh 100 pounds on Earth, you would weigh 264 pounds on Jupiter.
• Jupiter's volume is large enough to contain 1,300 planets the size of Earth.
• Jupiter rotates faster than any planet in the Solar System. It rotates so quickly that the days are only 10 hours long.
• It takes 12 Earth years for Jupiter to complete an orbit around the sun.
• The Great Red Spot on Jupiter is a massive persistent storm that has been going on for over 300 years.
• You can fit 100 Earths into Jupiter's Great Red Spot.
• The Planet has over 60 known satellites (moons), but most are small and emit faint light.
One of the most astounding revelations we encountered was Jupiter's pivotal role as Earth's celestial shield. Positioned perfectly in space, Jupiter acts as a gravitational vacuum, drawing in meteors and asteroids hurtling towards our planet, gallantly pulling them into its powerful gravitational embrace, bearing the brunt on our behalf. Some of these would undoubtedly destroy Earth, but by the time any fragments get through Jupiter's protection, they are significantly reduced and effortlessly disintegrated by the Earth's atmosphere. This newfound knowledge immediately brought Martin Luther's words to mind:
"God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars."
~Martin Luther
Not only does Jupiter speak of God's creative power, but it also serves as a picture of who God is for us: He is our protector and our defender. When we position ourselves perfectly in His will, He is our shield.
"But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high."
~Psalm 3:3
We were not created to walk through life with our heads bowed in despair and discouragement, surrendering to circumstances as if they were insurmountable obstacles set to conquer us. Jesus has come to lift our heads, enabling us to gaze upward in triumph and victory. When we lift our eyes to Him, who sits on high, and to the One who pours His glory into us, an abundance of faith fills us.
I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—He who watches over you will not slumber.
~Psalm 121:1-3
We can rest in the supernatural peace of knowing that God - metaphorically speaking - is our Jupiter. He is our protective covering—taking the hits on our behalf.
Whatever issue you are dealing with right now, know this: you can trust God. You can put your faith in His will and His ways for your life.
Lift your eyes in victory and have faith in God Almighty. Let Him watch over you and gird you. You are reading this right now, this very moment, because God wants you to know that He surpasses the magnitude of any challenge you are facing. It is not an accident that you are seeing these words. For such a time as this, God directed you here to know that He is at work, serving as a giant shield for you, and wants to lift your eyes in hope.
Remember, though you may feel inadequate, understand that you are God's prized creation. When you lift your eyes into the night sky and see the beautiful galaxy, let it always be a reminder that God is your protector and shield.
Have a blessed week,
Pastor (Rev. Elias Limones)
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