April 25, 2017 (Tuesday)
The Hubble telescope was on board the space shuttle, Discovery, when it was launched into orbit. The following day, April 25, 27 years ago today in 1990, it was deployed, placed into orbit around the earth. Several weeks later, after many adjustments and calibrations, it sent down its first pictures from space. Scientists and observers were thrilled with the results, but felt like the pictures should have been better. After further research and tests, it was determined that the mirrors were defective and needed to be replaced. That was done three years later, and the results after that were unbelievably successful, with Hubble showing us sights of the universe that were unknown until that time.
This advancement has taught us that the universe is much larger than we ever even dreamed it was. It has sent back pictures of every kind of celestial phenomenon that exists, with new views every day.
Over 40 years ago, a book was published with the title, “Your God Is Too Small,” by J. B. Phillips. The author sought to widen our vision of God. Phillips explained that the trouble facing many of us in those days was that we had not found a God big enough for our modern needs. How much greater is that need today, especially in light of the wonders of the universe revealed by the Hubble telescope. In a world where our experience of life has grown in countless ways, we may realize our own idea of God is too small. The millions of images sent back to us from space give us ample reason to enlarge our understanding of God. He is much greater than we ever believed.
Oh Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds which thou hast made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed,
Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to Thee,
How great Thou art,
How great Thou art!