To Glorify God: Johannes Kepler

The science of astronomy studies the heavens—planets, moons, stars, and
more. In 1571 a boy was born in Württemberg, Germany who became one of the
most famous and influential scientists and astronomers of all time. His
name was Johannes Kepler. Like many of us, Johannes was awed by the beauty
and mystery of a clear starry night. As a young boy, he was fascinated with
the sky and saw two things that made him want to know more: the great comet
of 1577 and a lunar eclipse in 1580. He grew up in the church and soon
believed that he was called by God to glorify Him as he studied His
creation. Johannes studied many different disciplines, including
mathematics, astronomy, and theology. He believed he could come to know God
more fully by observing the things He had made. He felt he had a divine
duty to explore and discover the nature of God’s creation and share it with
others so they could give God the glory too. Johannes was the first
scientist to correctly explain planetary motion. He also explained that
ocean tides are caused by the moon. He was even the first to formulate
eyeglasses specifically for nearsighted and farsighted people. But these
are only a sample of his work; his list of accomplishments is long.
Everything Johannes discovered, explained, or described in the world of
science was for the glory of God. He said, “The wisdom of the Lord is
infinite as are also His glory and His power.” We are still benefiting from
Johannes Kepler’s faith and discoveries today. May we all stand in awe of
the Lord like Johannes did. • Susan Sundwall • What mysteries in the
heavens do you think still need to be explored? • How do new scientific
discoveries about the universe make you feel about God? • How does learning
about the universe help us stand in awe of Jesus? (Colossians 1:15-20) The
heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

Read Verses:

Psalm 19:1; Psalm 147:4; Colossians 3:17