Immeasurable Greatness

 

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:15-21 ESV).

 

A galaxy consists of billions of stars, planets, moons, nebulae, dark matter, black holes, light, and energy. The universe is home to at least 100 billion galaxies, and they are distributed unevenly, in clusters and superclusters. There are three main types of galaxies, named for their shapes: spiral, elliptical, and irregular. Gravity holds all of a galaxy’s matter together, and causes it to orbit around the center of the galaxy. Our galaxy is a spiral galaxy called the Milky Way, and our solar system is located about halfway out one of its arms. Each arm rotates around the galaxy’s bulging center, but some individual stars move faster than others, like the way cars move through highway traffic jams. In total, the Milky Way has 100-400 billion stars of all different types — including every star that we can see with the naked eye — and many of them have their own solar systems. The entire galaxy measures about 100,000 light-years in diameter.

 

In our reading today the Apostle Paul uses the adjective “immeasurable” to describe the greatness of God’s power (v. 19). Some translations use the word “unsearchable” here. Regardless it is a description of the vastness of this power. It is so great we cannot fully understand it nor grasp it. Think of that for a moment. This great power is “to us”… it is directed toward our behalf as the children of God.

 

When I casually read about what scientists have discovered about our galaxy leaving more questions than answers, I think of the Creator, our God and Father, and begin to feel the depth of His plan and purpose for me. Comparing that to any experience, whether easy or difficult, pleasant or painful, I am left with the overwhelming understanding and feeling of being blessed. Whatever you may face remember who your Father is ... nothing is greater than Him!