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Before Columbus could sail to a New World, there had to be a greater knowledge of seas and navigation. When ancient Phoenicians took to seas, they hugged coastline to keep from getting lost at sea. When Vikings took to seas a few centuries before Columbus, they were using primitive (caged ravens to determine proximity to shore), but albeit greater knowledge and technology than Phoenicians.
There were two basic inventions during Renaissance that made Columbus’ journey to New World possible—the magnetic compass and astrolabe (forerunner to modern sextant). Only by knowledge of sun, moon, and stars, with a few simple instruments that measured distance between sun, moon, and stars did Columbus succeed in navigating high seas. Here again, knowledge from above was necessary to move man forward.
Remember importance of stars to wise men from east when Jesus was born? Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 24 about His second return? What did He say would foretell His appearing? He told us sun would turn dark and stars would fall from heavens. That’s interesting. Again, knowledge of stars above will point to soon coming King of Kings.
Now what am I saying? I’m saying that God put stars in sky for a purpose. Yes, they are beautiful, but there is more to them than just their beauty. The Bible declares that all His creation declares His glory. Even stars in sky speak of their Creator. Why can’t man do this? Why does man remain only rebel in God’s creation who refuses to worship and adore his Creator? The Bible says that a man who says in his heart that there is no God is a fool.
There was good reason why three wise men were called wise--they looked above them for guidance and it came to them in form of a star. It just so happened that star they discovered was Christ child. The wisest discovery of all time. (Sources cited are available)
Pastor of Faith Fellowship Church in Broken Arrow, OK. (918-451-0270)