Sunset On Mars

It may not look like much. But just think about what you are seeing in the photograph above. NASA’s rover has taken a snapshot of a sunset from another world. Go ahead and look at it again. Fascinating isn’t it? It is even beautiful in its own stark way.

The photograph instantly made me think about God—the Creator. Genesis 1:1 declares “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” And earth is a lot different than Mars. Mars is stark, empty, sterile and devoid of life. Earth is teeming with life. And the Creator planned it that way,

For thus says the Lord,
Who created the heavens,
Who is God,
Who formed the earth and made it,
Who has established it,
Who did not create it in vain,
Who formed it to be inhabited:
“I am the Lord, and there is no other.

(Isaiah 45:18)

The Hebrew word translated “in vain” means empty, a waste, in other words like Mars. The earth was not made to be like Mars. The very manner in which the earth has been created and made suitable and fruitful for our habitation points to the great goodness of God. The Bible says that, “…since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead (Romans 1:20).” We can see God exists and that He is powerful by all that is made, like the sunset on Mars.

But God has also given us witness that He is good. Scripture declares “Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness (Acts 14:17).” God is good. And The Bible reveals that “the goodness of God leads you to repentance (Romans 2:4).”

The next time you gaze up into the starry sky stop and think about how powerful God is. And the next time you bite into a juicy peach remember how good God is. And let your heart worship. “Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever (Psalm 106:1).”