Possibly you marveled at the beautiful, high-resolution images released today by NASA from the James Webb Space Telescope. As I watched the live revealing while doing some other work, I heard the engineers, scientists, and media totally geek out over the telescope and data received from it. And, rightfully so. The images were breathtaking.

As I listened to the news conference, media and scientists alike kept returning to the same hope. They hope the telescope will help reveal the origin of man. Several individuals commented on their hopes that this telescope will give them the answers for which they have long searched. They look to the telescope to provide them the ultimate answer. Hopefully, it will get them closer to the origin of man and the origin of the universe.

Of course they want to know their origin!

Their search for origin surprises no one. In fact, if they said they do not care, then I would be more concerned for them. As they discussed all the opportunities ahead for this technology, telescope, and resultant data, they were giddy. They could hardly answer questions about their excitement for the future information data they will receive without a smile. At times, they seemed almost out of breath just considering the future.

Why? Because God made them to want to know their origin. God designed them in His image and put inside each of them the desire to make sense of his or her world. They use Webb to peer into the universe. As they look, observe, strain, study, and pour over these images, the images continue to whisper to them about the glory and majesty of God (Ps 19:1-2). The very images they study rehearse God’s general revelation. As the Apostle Paul described, “For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse” (Rom 1:20).

The more they study, the more they want to know. The sad reality is for many of them, they will deny God even as they interact with the General Revelation of God. They ignore, twist, and seek to kick God out of His own universe (Rom 1:18-23).

Even denying God, they still want to know.

God builds in the desire to know our origin, purpose, and set in order our world. Solomon explained it.

Notice how Solomon helps us understand it. We search to understand everything done under heaven – which includes purpose, origin, and order. He describes this search as “this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.” We want to know, and it keeps our minds occupied wanting to know. Yet, there is a problem. “What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be numbered.” God has not given us the knowledge we need in order to figure these things out. It will not keep us from trying to figure it out, but without answers, it is a burdensome task. In fact, seeking to figure it out leaves us in a frustratingly enigmatic state and is like grasping for the wind.

In chapter three, Solomon describes it further:

¹⁰  I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied.  ¹¹  He has made everything beautiful (or fitting) in its time. Also He has put darkness in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:10-11, my translation)

This task of wanting to know our origin, purpose, and make order of our universe is our occupying task. However, even though there is purpose, is a true story of origin, and is order, we cannot know it completely. Why? Because God put darkness or you might think of fog in each person’s heart.

Think of a foggy night. You may know that the road goes to a particular place, has a particular purpose, and can safely get you there; however, when the dense fog moves in, you can lose your way. You cannot see behind you very far; you cannot see in front of you very far. Even though you kind of know, you do not. The fog disorients.

God places fog in our hearts. We know there is a purpose. Origin story – of course. Order to everything that happens – yes again. However, the problem is that we cannot know it – even though trying is part of being a person.

So what do we do?

So what do we do?

¹³ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.
¹⁴  For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil (Eccl 12:13-14).

We trust God. We obey God.

By trust, we read His Word – which tells us purpose, origin, and order. We learn from Him. We accept what God says as true. We let God’s Word be light for our path and a lamp for our feet.

By obey, we do what He asks us to do, even when we cannot put it all together. The fog will keep us from understanding some things. We can read about it in God’s Word – which is excellent. However, how all of life fits together in the pattern of prosperity and adversity leaves us guessing. We think we figure out God’s pattern, then the pattern changes. It exercises us, and leaves us with a frustrating enigma.

What do I do? I trust God and obey Him, even though I do not know how everything fits perfectly.

Purpose? God made us to become like Jesus Christ on earth on our way toward heaven.

Origin? God created the heavens and the earth with maturity or age.

Order? God places the days of adversity next to the days of prosperity according to His plan.

I hope you are fascinated and enjoy the images!

I hope you just love the images from the Webb Space Telescope. How exciting to see out into the vast areas of our universe. The fact that you are interested just proves that you are a person.

Once you see the data in images, then enjoy them. But, do not be confused. The James Webb Space Telescope, Hubble Telescope, or any other thing or person will give your your purpose, tell you the story of your origin, or help you understand God’s pattern. Instead, He calls you to trust Him and obey Him.

Enjoy the images!

Stephan’s Quartet HD Version

Here is a NASA LINK to the picture above in high resolution.