He Made the Stars Also
What is the reason for life, the universe, and everything else? It is a loaded philosophical question that the answer of “42” just really does not seem to answer well. It is humorous when we read the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams, to have the answer to such mysteries given in such a simplistic manner. But putting science fiction and humor aside we can give some simple answers also; they exist for very much the same reason every created thing does exist. They exist to give glory to their creator!
Figure 1 - This is the famous horsehead nebula. Actually it is a dark nebula classified as Barnard 33. From the Astrophotography Gallery of Bobby Middleton. Used by permission
First we will review when the stars were created and by whom!
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. (Genesis 1:14-19, KJV)
Just as the evolutionist, by faith, states that the stars exist because of some kind of big bang, we who believe that God created all things, state that the stars were made by His power. Fortunately, we also have the testimony of an eyewitness who later had the events recorded for all mankind to know the truth. In the very first chapter of Genesis, God records information pertaining to why He created the stars.
Three assertions can be understood from the above passage. The heavenly bodies were created to shine on the earth as sources of light and energy, determine times and seasons, and serve as signs or messengers. Dr. Werner Gitt, Director and Professor at the German Federal Institute of Physics, is the writer of numerous scientific papers and books in the field of information science, numerical mathematics, and control engineering. Dr. Gitt states: “These three functions indicate unequivocally that all astronomical bodies were made for the purpose of serving the earth; more specifically: to serve mankind. From these purposes given at creation, the chronological order of creation (earth on the first day and all the other planets only on the fourth day), as well as the overall testimony of the Bible, we conclude: From a biblical point of view we cannot expect life to exist on other planets of our solar system, nor yet on planets in any galaxies, should such planets be proven to exist.” 1
The stars were made to shine on earth; without light, life on earth is impossible. Maybe this is why God created light on the first creation day and replaced this super- natural light with the light from the sun and stars on day four. By perfect positioning, the earth is the proper dis- tance from the sun to receive the amount of energy it needs to sustain life—a little closer and it would be too hot, any further and it would be too cold. It is easy to see why the Creator purposefully placed the earth at this distance from the sun.
The stars were made to determine times and seasons. The very first definition of a physical unit of measurement given in the Bible is a time unit. Already on the very first day of creation, before the stars or sun existed, the diurnal cycle of night and day is defined. On the fourth day the sun, moon, and stars were created to continue this cycle. Not only were the creation events recorded in the Bible, but also the method for measuring their duration. The rotation of the earth, one solar day, 24 hours, is defined as the time from noon to noon when the sun passes the zenith on subsequent days. The earth’s orbit around the sun is a period of approximately 365.25 days; the period required for one complete orbit is known as a sidereal year. The moon’s orbit around the earth determines the length of a month as it goes through its phases from new moon to new moon.
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. (Psalm 19:1-6 KJV)
The messages of the stars are proclaimed in silence. God does not force Himself on anybody. The messages of the stars reach all people and all nations. “There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” (Psalm 19:3 KJV) Gitt states, “The message proclaimed by the stars is universally accessible, to the illiterate as well as the Nobel laureate.” 2 God’s witnesses in the sky cannot be silenced by anybody or anything but Himself. They proclaim the gospel of the living God, continuously, without effect from the multiplicity of human opinions.
What is the message the stars proclaim? The universe testifies to the existence of God. The testimony of creation is so clear that the vast cosmos could never have come into existence by chance. A Creator is required! The universe proclaims God’s great power. The size of the universe is estimated to be at least 12 thousand million light-years. The amount of energy, by using Einstein’s energy equation, E=mc2, and using a total mass of the universe as 1054 kg, gives us the energy content of this mass as 25×1060 MWh. The amount of energy in the universe is immeasurably beyond any possibility to illustrate.
The stars proclaim the glory of God! Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass. Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word: Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalm 148 KJV)
The stars are signs to mankind, the same Hebrew word, oth, is used about the stars and about the mark of Cain. An essential characteristic of a sign is that it points away from itself to something else or to somebody.
The constellations are signs to mankind that have been perverted from the times of the tower of Babel. What is the story of the zodiac constellations as opposed to the astrology the zodiac now represents? Presented here are two possible meanings for the signs, with one having twelve signs in the zodiac and the other having thirteen signs. 3 ,4
The first constellation is Virgo. This sign tells us that the promised Messiah would be born of a virgin.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8 KJV)
The next sign is Libra. This is a sign revealing the divine judgment on all mankind.
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31 KJV)
Scorpio, the Scorpion, reveals that the promised seed, Jesus Christ, had to die so we could be saved and through His death, He has triumphed over eternal death.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1 Corinthians 15:55 KJV)
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: be- cause it was not possible that he should be holden of it. (Acts 2:24 KJV)
Sagittarius, the Archer, represents the corruption of the human race by sin or some would say through demonism. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23 KJV)
Capricorn, the Goat, could represent the utter wickedness of mankind as in the separating of the sheep from the goats in the judgment.
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (Matthew 25:33-34 KJV)
Aquarius, the Water Pourer, reveals the truth of the global flood that destroyed the Earth during Noah’s life- time.
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. (Matthew 24:37-42 KJV)
Pisces, the Fishes, could tell the story of the emergence of the true people of God. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matthew 4:19 KJV)
Jesus wanted the good news of salvation to spread throughout the world so he taught his followers how to fish for the souls of men.
Aries, the Ram, tells us about the sacrifice of an innocent Substitute for sin.
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32 KJV)
Taurus, the Bull, could represent the agony, the pain and suffering that our Lord suffered at the hands of those He created. He was also afflicted by the scorn, the hate, the resentment and the rebellion of mankind.
Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. (Psalm 22:12-18 KJV)
Gemini, the Twins, on one hand could signify the duality of our Savior that was both man and God. It could also represent that repentance is clearly a required event in one’s life or else one will face final judgment and condemnation. On the other side of the coin of repentance is to be born again.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3 KJV)
Cancer, the Crab, could represent the spiritual destruction to the walk of faith caused by the little sins we allow to go unchecked. Gossip and idle words are so destructive to the believer because they destroy the foundation of his live like termites the foundation of a home.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (Matthew 12:36-37 KJV)
Leo, the Lion, shows the destruction of the serpent by the Great King.
Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. (Genesis 49:9-10 KJV)
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. (Revelation 5:5 KJV)
Ophiucus, the Serpent-Bearer, as the thirteenth sign could represent the fact that Eve in the Garden of Eden was tempted by the serpent to eat of the fruit God had forbidden. Because of this act sin entered the world and as a consequence man was separated from God.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:14-19 KJV)
While we may not know the exact message the stars and constellations tells us, we can look up in awe as to the wonder and power of the One who created them. We are blessed to no longer depend on the message from the stars only but to have the very Word come down in the flesh to prove their silent message. Henry Morris, from the Institute of Creation Research stated, “One should remember that, whatever that primeval message may have been, it is no longer needed. We have the complete Word of God now, inscripturated, providing absolutely all the guidance we need for faith and life today.”