Author Ava Pennington
Author Ava Pennington
glory, love, and the center of the universe

Glory, Love, Black Holes, and the Center of the Universe

 

Black holes are back in the news. Scientists have discovered a new way to find black holes in our outer solar system.

According to Wikipedia, black holes form when stars collapse at the end of their life cycle. Many astronomers believe black holes exist in the centers of galaxies. Especially intriguing is that a black hole is believed to continue to grow by absorbing mass from its surroundings.

But there’s no need to travel to outer space to find black holes. We can find a similar effect in the lives of many people right here on earth. People who see themselves as the center of their universe. Celebrities who collapse under the weight of the stardom they pursued. And people who seek ineffective solutions as they struggle to prop themselves up with addictions to alcohol, drugs, pornography, and sex. But even as they are collapsing, the gravitational pull draws those closest to them into the same black hole.

Sometimes I wonder if Christians—especially western Christians—have fallen for a similarly misguided perspective. I often hear statements such as, “God doesn’t want me to be unhappy.” And there’s even a popular contemporary praise song that says the reason Christ came to earth was that God did not want heaven without people.

But statements such as those imply we are the center of the universe. Our desires. Our priorities. Carried out to full maturity, this perspective asserts that heaven would fall short if people weren’t in it.

Like an astronomical black hole, our egos easily grow. And we develop a level of self-importance rivaling God for His preeminent position. This kind of thinking fails to consider the very nature of God. He is Yahweh, the eternal l AM—dependent on no one and nothing else. He doesn’t need us; we need Him.

But isn’t God love? And doesn’t the Bible say “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son” (John 3:16)? Absolutely! Then does this mean the reason He created us is to love us? Or was the primary reason for the creation of humanity something else?

In fact, the primary reason for everything God does is something else.

Everything God does is for His glory. He made us for His glory (Isaiah 43:7). He loves us for His glory. He rescued Israel during the Exodus to show His glory (Exodus 15:11). He brought them back from the Babylonian exile to show His glory (Isaiah 48:11). And He sent His Son to show His glory (John 1:14).

Yet today, all too often we back into this truth instead of starting with it. When we start with God’s glory, everything else, including His love for us, finds its rightful place.

God is love. And He loves us with lavish, abundant love. So lavish that He did not withhold His own Son (Romans 8:32). What a privilege to know He made us for His glory and He loves us for His glory. Most important of all, He is the center of our universe. It doesn’t get any better than that!

 

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9 Comments

  1. Anne Holz

    Excellent analogy with black holes and our self centeredness! That word picture will stick in my mind. I think daily it will prove very useful to keep a proper perspective.

  2. Melinda Viergever Inman

    This is a great post, Ava! Not only is it informative about the essence of black holes, but your comparison with human nature is entirely unique. When we fall into the sin of self-centeredness in any number of ways, we are indeed a black hole, sucking our family and friends and everyone else into our addiction or selfishness or any number of vices we might possess.

    God’s glory is the reason he created all of this — well said! And from a human perspective, God’s glory is all that will ever satisfy us. When we chase all of those other thing that turn us into one type of black hole or another, we are never satisfied. But when we pursue the Lord and one day when we finally are in his presence, his glory satisfies us and fills us with wonder at his nature, his love, his work in the world, and all of his doings. We will never be left unsatisfied with him with he is our heart’s desire.

  3. Melissa Henderson

    Amen. God loves us. He created us. I pray the world will turn to Him and stop trying to glorify the wrong things. Great post Ava.

  4. Diane B

    Great post Ava! Love the analogy of Black Holes and how we can sometimes lead lives like a black hole; especially if you forget our focus is on God and His story for our lives. 🙂 Thanks for writing such hope and faith.

  5. Jessica Brodie

    So good, Ava. “Happiness” is never the point. I pray we continue to focus on God!

  6. Lorrie

    I love this. Thank you. I needed the reminder today that through my discouraging thoughts of things not exactly as I would like them to be, I must remember I am here to worship Him not the other way around.

  7. Karen Friday

    Ava, such a powerful analogy that hits dead center to the “heart” of the matter. Human hearts are misguided to focus on “me.” It’s an age-old tactic by the enemy. When in fact, we were wired to be God-focused, but we have learned how to be self-absorbed. So I like how you note: “In fact, the primary reason for everything God does is something else.

    Everything God does is for His glory. He made us for His glory (Isaiah 43:7). He loves us for His glory. ”

    I’ve resolved it’s not about me. It’s about the One who said, “Follow Me.”

  8. Nancy E. Head

    He isn’t the Santa Claus god. (No disrespect to those who do Santa. I did.)

    We aren’t to look at God as being there to do our bidding. We are here to do His.

    It’s hard for us to keep that straight.

  9. Yvonne Morgan

    Great post Ava. I love the comparison between black holes and our faith. I think some have lost their way to Christ.

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