Taking Back Astronomy

Yesterday, I finished reading a book titled Taking Back Astronomy--The Heavens Declare Creation and Science Confirms It. The book, written by Dr. Jason Lisle, is a good introduction to a biblical view of the universe. Filled with gorgeous images from the heavens, the book is very helpful in understanding some of the presuppositions and assumptions made by the secular science community regarding the creation and order of the universe. More importantly, the book provides the layman with scientific and biblical facts that are helpful in refuting the naturalists' worldview, theories, and models regarding the universe.

While I wish the gospel presentation at the end of the book was as theologically precise as the rest of the book was scientifically precise, I can recommend this book for its usefulness in honing one's apologetic, as it pertains to applying a biblical world view to astronomy.

Big Dog and Little People

It doesn't look like much, does it? Compared to the other images we have shared on this site, the above photo is rather, well, dull. When you saw it, you probably shrugged your shoulders, rolled your eyes, yawned, and thought, "Big deal. A fuzzy cloud of gas. Is that little dot in the center a star? Show me something good. Show me something impressive."

Well, that little dot in the center of that gaseous, hazy cloud is Canis Majoris--the Big Dog Star.

Canis Majoris, a red hypergiant star in the Canis Major constellation, is located about 5,000 light years from Earth.

So, how big is the Big Dog?

Canis Majoris is approximately 2,600 times the size of our sun. This might help put things into perspective. A person walking at 3 miles per hour (an average pace), for 8 hours per day (a lot of walking), would take 2 years and 11 months to circle Earth. Not a bad accomplishment. The same person, walking at the same speed and the same number of hours each day, would take 310 years and 7 months to circle the Sun. Of course, this is a physical impossibility since, at the most, a person will live for 120 years.

So, how long would it take for a person to circle Canis Majoris? 650,000 years!

Not a visual learner? Need another picture or two in order to grasp the enormity of the largest star known to man? How about this. Canis Majoris is the size of Saturn's orbit around the Sun.

Light (traveling at 186,000 miles per second) takes approximately 8 minutes to travel from the Sun to Earth. Canis Majoris is so large that light takes 8 hours to travel around the star's circumference.

Canis Majoris is so large that it can fit 7 quadrillion Earths inside it. A quadrillion is 1,000 trillion. Think of it this way. If the Earth was a golf ball, Canis Majoris would be the size of Mount Everest.

If you haven't said "Whoa!" yet, take a minute to watch this video.



Do you feel small, yet? You should. Why? Because you are small. You are but a speck on the Earth. The Earth is but a speck compared to the Sun. And the Sun is an insignificant little speck compared to Canis Majoris.

While the world would encourage you to be filled with self-esteem, to look in the mirror and declare your own goodness; a man named Paul--a man who was once filled to overflowing with self-esteem--penned these words. "For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think: but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith" (Romans 12:3).

Many people apply the term "big dog" to people of influence and power, or to people that possess some kind of physical, artistic, or intellectual talent. Some would go as far as to apply the term to themselves. A cottage industry of casual apparel has been successfully marketed to the masses by feeding man's innate desire to be the "big dog."

But think again of the astronomical size of Canis Majoris. And then consider this. God created Canis Majoris with a word. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).

Here's an even more humbling thought. You will one day stand before the God who created Canis Majoris and you will give an account of the life you lived on this tiny, little speck of real estate.

On that day, God will judge you according to the perfect, moral standard of His Law. See how you will do.

Have you ever lied? Have you ever stolen? Have you ever taken God’s name in vain? Have you ever murdered in your heart by hating another person or by being angry without cause? Then, according to God’s perfect and holy standard, you are a lying, thieving, blasphemous, murderer at heart. You're not a big dog. You're a big sinner.

If God finds you guilty of breaking His Law, then He must punish you. And the punishment for your sins against God is eternity in hell. Although this is tragic, there is good news!

God the Father sent His sinless Son, Jesus Christ (God in the flesh), to take upon Himself the punishment you rightly deserve for your sins against God when He shed His innocent blood and died on the cross. Three days later he forever defeated death when He rose from the grave. So, what must you do to be saved from God’s wrath and judgment? Recognize that you cannot save yourself. Repent (turn away from your sins) and put your trust and faith in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation. You will pass from death into life and receive the free gift of eternal life.

The God who created you; the God who created Canis Majoris is the only God who can save you. Please consider these things carefully. Repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Read the Bible every day and obey what it says.

The Eagle Nebula (M16)

Thanks to advancements in astronomy, we are now able to see incredible images of God's handiwork. Images like this: the Eagle Nebula.

Also known as Messier Object 16 (M16), the Eagle Nebula is located in the constellation Serpens, near Sagittarius. The nebula has an approximate size of 70x55 light years. The brightest star within the nebula, which is 7,000 light years from earth, is visible with a good pair of binoculars.


If you look closely at the Eagle Nebula, you will see tall columns of gas stretching toward the center of the nebula. Astronomers call these columns "pillars of creation." The below picture is of the top of one of those columns.

Now, look closely at the column. Do you see what appears to be finger-like plumes at the top of the column of gas? Astronomers call those "egg" (Evaporating Gaseous Globules) factories. The gaseous clouds serve as star incubators.

As you look at those finger-like, gaseous protrusions in the below "pillar of creation," consider this. Each of those fingers, according to astronomers, is about the size of our solar system.


The God who made the Eagle Nebula and what secular scientists have dubbed the "pillars of creation," is the same God who led millions of people on an exodus through the desert almost 3,500 years ago. And he led them by pillars as miraculous as the ones found in the Eagle Nebula.

"The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people" (Exodus 13:21-22).

The word "pillar" is mentioned several times in the Bible--most notably when Lot's wife disobeyed God when she turned and looked back at Sodom and Gomorrah. "But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt" (Genesis 19:26).

The same God who created the pillars found in the Eagle Nebula; the same God who lead Israel by pillars of smoke and fire; the same God who exacted instantaneous judgment against Lot's wife for her disobedience, is the same God before whom you will stand one day. How will you fair on that day?

On that day the God who created fingers of gas the size of our solar system will point a holy finger at you and judge you according the perfect standard of His moral Law. "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after that comes judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).

Will He find you innocent or guilty? If your not sure, answer the following questions.

How many times have you pointed a finger at someone and expressed anger, ridicule, or hatred toward them? If you have done this, then according to God's Law you are a murderer-at-heart. "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him" (1 John 3:15).

How many times have you pointed a finger at someone and accused them falsely, or pointed a finger at someone and lied to them in order to pridefully defend or exalt yourself? If you have done this, then according to God's Law you are a liar. "And all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Rev. 21:8b).

How many times have you been angry at God and pointed your finger to the heavens and blamed Him for your circumstances, or taken His holy name in vain? If you have done this, then according to God's Law you are a blasphemer. "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain" (Exodus 20:7).

How many times have you pointed toward a man or a woman and said to yourself, or to others, that you wanted that person in a sexual way. If you have done this, then according to God's Law you are an adulterer. "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).

If the above is true about you, then the Creator of the Universe sees you as a murdering, lying, blasphemer, and an adulterer-at-heart. Because God is good and holy, he must punish sin. And the punishment for sin (and all sin is against God) is eternity in hell.

Remember, God's standard is moral perfection. "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it" (James 2:10). No matter how much you may try to minimize or justify your sin, even the slightest violation of His Law--slight in your mind--makes you guilty before the infinitely Holy God and worthy of His judgment and wrath.

Although this is tragic, there is good news!

God the Father sent His sinless Son, Jesus Christ (God in the flesh), to take upon Himself the punishment you rightly deserve for your sins against God when He shed His innocent blood and died on the cross.

On that great and terrible day, God the Father pointed His finger at God the Son and crushed Him under the weight of His just and holy wrath--the wrath you deserve for breaking God's Law.

Three days later Jesus Christ forever defeated death when He rose from the grave--a miracle seen by no less than 500 eyewitnesses.

So, what must you do to be saved from God’s wrath and judgment? Recognize that you cannot save yourself. Repent (turn away from your sins) and put your trust and faith in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation. You will pass from death into life and receive the free gift of eternal life.

The God who created you; the God who created the heavens and the earth is the only God who can save you. Please consider these things carefully. Repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Read the Bible every day and obey what it says.

Oh. One more thing. The next time you see a picture of the Eagle Nebula, or if you happen to see it someday through a telescope, consider this.

"Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary" (Isaiah 40:31).

NGC 290

Can you count them? Can you count all the stars in the above photo?

NGC 290 is a star cluster within the Small Magellanic Cloud. SMC is one of the Milky Way's closest neighbors at 200,000 light years away.

The picture above is of a mere cluster of stars located in the photo below.


How about now? Can you count them?

Even if you could count the stars in the cluster; and even if you could count the stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud; you could never count all of the stars in the heavens. There are billions of galaxies containing billions of stars. It is amazing to consider the vastness of the Universe.

More amazing is that God, the Creator of the Universe, holds it all in His hand. "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance" (Isa. 40:12)?

And the God who created the Universe also created you. "For You formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb" (Psalm 139:13). The same God who gave the stars their names is the same God who numbered the hairs on your head.

Like the sands on the seashore and the stars in the heavens, there is something else that is too numerous to count--your sins against God. "Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins" (Ecc. 7:20).

How many times have you lied? Can you count them?

How many times have you looked with lust and thus committed adultery in your heart? Can you count them?

How many times have you taken God's name in vain--used His holy name to express disgust or excitement? Can you count them?

How many times have you dishonored your parents by committing any of the before mentioned sins, or disrespected them in any way? Can you count them?

As you try to total the sum in your mind, you should know that God not only considers your words and actions, but your thoughts as well. So, how are you doing? Can you count them? Can you count your sins against God?

Like the stars of the heavens, your sins against the One who created the stars are innumerable. You will one-day die and stand before Him--the Creator of the Universe, God Almighty. And when that time comes, He will judge you according to the perfect moral standard of His Law--His Commandments. "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment" (Heb. 9:27).

If God finds you guilty of breaking His Law, then He must punish you. And the punishment for sinning against God is eternity in hell. "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death" (Rev. 21:8).

Remember, God's standard is moral perfection. "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it" (James 2:10). No matter how much you may try to minimize or justify your sin, even the slightest violation of His Law--slight in your mind--makes you guilty before the infinitely Holy God and worthy of His judgment and wrath.

Although this is tragic, there is good news!

God the Father sent His sinless Son, Jesus Christ (God in the flesh), to take upon Himself the punishment you rightly deserve for your sins against God when He shed His innocent blood and died on the cross. Three days later he forever defeated death when He rose from the grave. So, what must you do to be saved from God’s wrath and judgment? Recognize that you cannot save yourself. Repent (turn away from your sins) and put your trust and faith in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation. You will pass from death into life and receive the free gift of eternal life.

The God who created you; the God who created the heavens and the earth is the only God who can save you. Please consider these things carefully. Repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Read the Bible every day and obey what it says.

The Sombrero Galaxy

The next time you look at the sun, our closest star, imagine this. Imagine a cluster of stars made up of 100,000 to 1, 000, 000 suns. Imagine if you can more than 2,000 of these massive clusters grouped together. That’s ten times the number of star clusters found in the Milky Way. And that’s the Sombrero Galaxy. Traveling at the speed of light (186,000 mile per second), it would only take you 28 million years to reach the Sombrero Galaxy. Once there, it would only take you 50 thousand years, traveling at that speed, to get from one end of the galaxy to the other.

These astronomical figures are hard to imagine, aren’t they? Now, take a moment to consider this. “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit” (Psalm 147:4-5). The God who made the heavens and the earth and all they contain also made you; and one-day you will stand before Him. To measure massive distances, we use the speed of light. How will you measure up when you stand before the God who created light? There’s one way to find out.

Measure yourself by the standard of God’s Law. Have you ever lied? Have you ever stolen? Have you ever taken God’s name in vain? Have you ever murdered in your heart by hating another person or by being angry without cause? Then, according to God’s perfect and holy standard, you are a lying, thieving, blasphemous, murderer at heart. The Bible says, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31)—the God who holds the heavens in the palm of His hand.

If God finds you guilty of breaking His Law, then He must punish you. And the punishment for sinning against God is eternity in hell. Although this is tragic, there is good news!

God the Father sent His sinless Son, Jesus Christ (God in the flesh), to take upon Himself the punishment you rightly deserve for your sins against God when He shed His innocent blood and died on the cross. Three days later he forever defeated death when He rose from the grave. So, what must you do to be saved from God’s wrath and judgment? Recognize that you cannot save yourself. Repent (turn away from your sins) and put your trust and faith in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation. You will pass from death into life and receive the free gift of eternal life.

The God who created you; the God who created the heavens and the earth is the only God who can save you. Please consider these things carefully. Repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. Read the Bible every day and obey what it says.