WEBVTT 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:06.799 Welcome to the Refinery Church Sermon Podcast. 00:00:06.959 --> 00:00:08.640 We're so glad you've joined us today. 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:14.400 Our prayer is that this message will help you grow in your pursuit to love and follow Jesus for life. 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:22.320 If you'd like to learn more about the refinery, find ways to get connected, share a prayer request, or explore resources to help you grow deeper in your walk with Christ. 00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:25.199 Visit us online at refineryohio.com. 00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:28.320 Now let's dive into today's message. 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:36.479 For those of you who don't know me, uh my name is Eric Burkhart, and this is my lovely bride, Amanda. 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:41.679 Um if you are used to coming to this service, you may not see me around the place very often. 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:50.560 Uh, because at this time uh we are leading a service in downtown to a facility um called the Buck uh the Commons at Buckingham. 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:55.359 It's a residence facility for those who've experienced homelessness before. 00:00:55.439 --> 00:01:02.640 Um and so we do a Sunday service there every week and have a she leads the music and I preach there every week. 00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:08.879 And then we have a team that that does a midweek Bible study there as well, and I'm the the pastor there. 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:16.319 Uh so uh if you don't know me, uh uh that's who I am, Eric Burkhart, and it's and I look forward to meeting anyone who haven't. 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:20.239 Uh but I entitled this message, Look at the Stars. 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:22.640 Now I want you to do something with me here. 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:24.719 I want you to close your eyes for a second. 00:01:24.879 --> 00:01:26.959 I promise not to do anything too crazy. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:29.200 Close your eyes for a second. 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:39.040 Pretend you're way out in the middle of nowhere, not in the middle of the city where there's all this light pollution, but pretend you're further out and you look up to the night sky. 00:01:40.239 --> 00:01:41.439 What do you see? 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:44.560 That's not rhetorical, you're allowed to answer. 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:45.359 What do you see? 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:46.560 Stars. 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:47.760 Yes. 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:49.840 More than you can count. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:55.200 Anybody, anybody, uh, any kids want to guess how many they can see in the sky? 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:56.079 Yeah. 00:01:57.519 --> 00:01:59.920 2,000! That's a that's more than I could count. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:02.799 I don't think I think I'd stu give up after 500, I think. 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:03.280 Good. 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:04.640 Maybe, maybe. 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:12.479 When I went to my grandmother's house when I was a kid, I we would always leave and it would always be after dark, and I would look, and she lived out in the middle of nowhere. 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:17.840 We we grew up in the Ohio Valley, uh far from any major cities, so we didn't have a lot of light pollution. 00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:26.240 And when I would go out to grandma's house and I would leave, I always took a second to look up at the sky, and it was beautiful. 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:32.159 It piqued my curiosity, this beautiful display of all these more stars than I can count. 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:35.280 I I don't, like I said, I probably would have given up after 500. 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:36.800 2,000 is a good guess. 00:02:37.039 --> 00:02:41.759 I don't know how many stars there are in the sky, but it is beautiful to behold. 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:48.479 And when I look at the sky, and when I looked at it as a kid, it made me always wonder what's all out there? 00:02:48.639 --> 00:02:49.680 What's that one there? 00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:50.639 Is that a planet? 00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:51.680 Is that a star? 00:02:51.840 --> 00:02:52.639 What's over there? 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:56.000 And it made me want to be in a rocket ship and go explore them all. 00:02:56.159 --> 00:03:05.840 In fact, being an astronaut would probably be like if I was better at math and science, I totally would have signed up for astronaut because that sounds like a really cool job to me. 00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:12.479 Even the entertainment that I consume reflects this curiosity with what's out there. 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:17.919 I was one of those weird hybrid people that liked both Star Wars and Star Trek. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:24.159 I know that's weird because most people like camp out on one side or the other, but I'm geeky geeky enough that I like it all. 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:31.360 Uh I even like have a dabble in like 50s sci-fi and like with the weird flying saucers and all that sort of stuff. 00:03:31.520 --> 00:03:34.639 It always makes me curious what is out there? 00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:39.199 What would I find if I went and explored out beyond our solar system? 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:46.400 So, not surprisingly, lately I've been absolutely geeking out about this whole Artemis II thing. 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:49.360 Anyone else geek out about NASA and Artemis II? 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:51.280 Yes, I get at least a couple hands. 00:03:51.360 --> 00:03:57.599 In the first service, I got like one person that care that cares about uh space exploration like I do. 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:01.039 So maybe we're the the rare breed that that is excited about this. 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:02.639 But I was absolutely stoked. 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:15.280 In fact, my wife and I go to these uh these concerts, these orchestra concerts sometimes, and we were scheduled to go to an orchestra concert, and they were playing a bunch of Cole Porter songs, which if you don't know Cole Porter, great artist. 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:18.000 Um and no disrespect to Mr. 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:26.959 Porter, but the Artemis 2 mission was about to conclude with the splashdown right as the orchestra is picking up to play their music. 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:27.839 And you know what? 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:30.000 I can listen to Cole Porter anytime at Spotify. 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:31.600 So guess what I was doing? 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:41.199 I was sitting there surreptitiously with my phone down in my lap, watching Splashdown and trying not to disturb anybody's concert. 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:43.360 Now, kids, don't please don't follow my example. 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:44.639 That's a terrible example. 00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:48.079 You're supposed to be polite and not pull out your devices in that time. 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:50.399 But this doesn't happen every day. 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:52.800 I didn't grow up in the Apollo missions. 00:04:52.879 --> 00:04:57.120 I don't remember what it was like to see Neil Armstrong step on the moon. 00:04:57.279 --> 00:04:58.560 I didn't have that experience. 00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:05.199 For my generation, the closest we ever got to this deep space stuff was what was it? 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:07.040 Say it again? 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:07.839 Year 2000. 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:08.959 Year 2000. 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:13.040 Well, that there's a lot, there's a lot of hype around that, uh, for sure. 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:18.079 No, I was I was actually thinking uh of Buzz Lightyear going to infinity and beyond. 00:05:18.160 --> 00:05:20.000 That that was my generation, right? 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:23.279 We didn't have you know all the Apollo missions. 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:31.360 But the more I look at all these pictures from this mission, and if you know the the sp the the Webb Space Telescope, you know this? 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:33.680 It's like supposed to replace the Hubble, right? 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:37.600 Even better images, more, you know, more resolution, right? 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:46.639 When I look at all these images that come back from deep space, it reminds me that our universe is vast. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:49.040 It's vast. 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:53.120 Do you know we live in a thing called a galaxy? 00:05:53.279 --> 00:06:00.399 So we live on planet Earth, and a galaxy is a whole bunch of stars like our sun all grouped together. 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:05.839 Anyone under the age of 18, can you tell me what the name of our galaxy is? 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:07.759 Yeah. 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:09.600 Say it again. 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:11.199 Milky Way, very good. 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:11.920 The Milky Way. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:16.800 If I had a Milky Way candy bar, you'd have it right now, but unfortunately I didn't prepare for that. 00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:19.839 Do you know how many they believe? 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:25.199 No one knows for sure, but do you know how many stars they believe are in the Milky Way? 00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:27.600 This anybody can answer this. 00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:29.439 Say it again? 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:31.519 10 trillion? 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:32.959 That's a really good guess. 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:39.680 Uh that's a little bit big for the Milky Way, but that's closer to that's closer to the wider universe. 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:51.360 They believe, just in our one galaxy, that there's approximately 100 billion stars just in the Milky Way. 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:56.720 Just in our now, did you know the Milky Way is part of a neighborhood of galaxies? 00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:58.720 I thought houses were in neighborhoods. 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:00.959 Apparently, galaxies are in neighborhoods too. 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:04.720 And there's about 50 of those things with 100 billion stars in them, right? 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:07.439 Just in our little neighborhood of the universe, right? 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:11.600 Uh also people under the age of 18. 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:15.600 How what's the closest planet to us here? 00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:16.959 Yeah. 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:18.000 Mars. 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:18.639 Very good. 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:22.319 Do you know how long anybody it takes to go to Mars? 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:24.079 That's the closest to us. 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:25.759 How long does it take to go to Mars? 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:26.560 Yeah. 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:28.720 An hour? 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:32.319 How fast do your parents drive? 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:34.399 That's a good guess. 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:35.680 Uh a little bit off. 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:38.480 Anyone else guess, want to guess how long it takes? 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:39.360 Two plus years. 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:40.480 Two plus years? 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:42.240 Uh that's that's really close. 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:52.240 It depends on how fast you're going, but the last time that we sent anything, like they send like rovers and stuff out to Mars, it took about nine months to get there. 00:07:52.480 --> 00:08:00.560 Do you know the speed they were going was thirty six thousand miles per hour? 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:08.800 Not 3,600, but 36,000 miles per hour, and it took nine months to get there. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:16.240 Our universe is fast! So how fast? 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:19.680 Frankly, we don't even know. 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:22.879 How many stars are there? 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:26.560 More than we could count, more than we could fathom. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:30.800 But the more I think about it, the more I marvel. 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:31.439 Why? 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:34.720 Because God created it all. 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:38.720 How great must God be? 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:43.679 The Bible describes creation as being ex nihilo. 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:46.639 That's Latin for out of nothing. 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:52.720 How great is our God to make billions and trillions and numbers. 00:08:52.879 --> 00:09:01.120 Uh actually, it was, I'm gonna I'm gonna identify, it was uh Beckett Yol in the first service that introduced me to a new number. 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:02.480 He said, a Googleplex. 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:07.679 A Googleplex is apparently one with a hundred zeros after it. 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:11.120 There's a Googleplex of stars in the universe. 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:20.159 There's so many, we don't even have a number for how many stars, and God created it all out of nothing. 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:39.519 Now, one of God's prophets, Isaiah, writing to the people of God, the people of Israel, and trying to reassure them at a very dark time in their history, uses this vast created universe to help them see how great their God was. 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:43.679 This is what it says in Isaiah 40, verse 25. 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:47.840 It says, To whom will you compare me, or who is my equal? 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:49.360 That's God is speaking in this. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:53.120 To whom will you compare me, or who is my equal, says the Holy One. 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:55.759 The Holy One's a way of referencing God. 00:09:57.039 --> 00:09:59.600 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens. 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:01.360 Who created all these? 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:08.720 He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. 00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:14.240 Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:15.919 How many are not missing? 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:18.799 Zero, exactly. 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:21.200 You have the concept of zero, very good. 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:38.080 Not one is missing out of the whatever the word was, Googleplex of stars, or maybe even more than that number of stars, not one is out of place because of God's great power, his mighty strength. 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:46.159 Now, this verse emphasizes God's strength, God's creative power. 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:50.320 You know, God creates the universe and sustains it. 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:58.559 He creates all the stars and hangs them right where he wants them in the sky and sustains all that exists. 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:03.279 This aspect of God, a fancy Bible word for it, is his transcendence. 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:07.519 That means that God is greater than that which God creates. 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:09.679 God is all-powerful. 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:13.440 But the passage hints at another divine attribute. 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:16.559 What we call in Bible speak God's imminence. 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:22.000 Imminence means that he's close to us, he's near, he's intimate. 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:27.919 Notice that God calls each star by name. 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:38.399 How many in here can name, you're allowed to answer honestly, how many people can name all the people who live on your street? 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:42.080 We actually have, we got one there? 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:44.799 How how many approximately is that, do you think? 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:51.519 11? 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:52.399 All right. 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:57.279 How many in here uh students perhaps can name all the kids in their class? 00:11:58.159 --> 00:11:58.559 Yeah? 00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:00.879 How many are in your class approximately? 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:03.279 25, how many in your class? 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:04.399 28? 00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:05.840 Oh, you have a big class. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:08.480 22, you have a small class. 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:09.440 All right. 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:10.799 Yeah. 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:13.600 22, you have 22 in your class as well? 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:14.639 Very good. 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:17.679 God has oh, sorry, I missed one. 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:19.039 How many? 00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:24.399 Oh, wow. 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:25.360 67. 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:26.159 What class is it? 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:27.279 Like orchestra? 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:29.039 Oh, yeah? 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:30.559 Oh yeah? 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:31.279 Very nice. 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:32.639 Alright, that's a lot of names. 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:34.399 I don't think I can remember that many names. 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:35.200 Very good. 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:43.519 God remembers where every star is and calls each of them by name. 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:50.240 How many ever stars there are, God calls each of them by name. 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:58.159 God not only created the vast universe and all the stars and hung them right where he wanted to be, he has names for each one. 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:02.639 Now, when I was in a in first grade, I had the privilege of naming a pet. 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:11.360 We bought a um a Beagle pup, and I named her uh Cindy after a girl that I liked in the first grade. 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:16.080 Now, thinking back on it, that probably wasn't as flattering to Cindy as I wanted it to be. 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:18.320 Nevertheless, that's what I did. 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:24.000 Uh so if your name is Cindy and you think I might have named our dog after you, uh, I apologize. 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:26.000 It was meant to be a compliment. 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:28.000 Um I denied it to my parents. 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:30.080 My parents said it was because I had a crush on Cindy. 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:31.679 I said it's a total coincidence. 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:34.960 I just picked that name because I thought it fit a female dog, right? 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:37.919 Um they they they called me out for it. 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:41.279 Um but why do we name our pets? 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:43.279 This isn't rhetorical, you can answer. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:44.879 Why do we name our pets? 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:51.360 Why don't we just call them thing one and thing two or call them hey dog or hey cat or hey goldfish or whatever? 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:52.960 Why do we name our pets? 00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:56.639 We love them, yeah. 00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:59.279 Any other thoughts why we name our pets? 00:13:59.360 --> 00:13:59.759 Yeah. 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:03.039 They're special, yeah. 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:05.759 We love them and they're special to us. 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:10.960 God names the stars because the stars matter. 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:14.639 In other words, that creation, the created order, matters. 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:16.960 That's what reflects God's imminence. 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:23.279 Not only is God the creator, the almighty, but he cares about creation. 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:27.759 God cares for what God creates. 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:32.159 God didn't name the stars because he was bored and he needed something to do. 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:37.440 God gave them names because they matter to him, because creation matters to him. 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:42.720 God is not some absentee landlord that only checks in when you forgot to pay the rent. 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:46.159 God cares for what God creates. 00:14:47.279 --> 00:15:02.000 So what Isaiah is doing here when he's trying to reassure Israel is he's bringing together and holding together God's almighty transcendence, on the one hand, with God's closeness, his intimacy, his imminence, we call it. 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:02.799 C. 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:03.200 S. 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:14.080 Lewis in his book, The Problem of Pain, which by the way, don't read it unless you like to geek out over hard things to read, because it's a very hard book to read, but it is filled with a lot of really good theology. 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:16.399 He attempts to do the same idea. 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:24.799 He says this: he says, God is both further from us and nearer to us than any other being. 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:35.840 God is both the Almighty Creator who speaks and things happen, but he's also, as John 15 describes, he's also close as a friend. 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:45.600 You see, both aspects of God's nature are critical to understand if we're going to trust God when things go sideways. 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:50.000 Okay, so take your fingers and put them right up here on your neck. 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:54.000 Do you ever all have a pulse? 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.440 Yeah? 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:56.159 Hopefully. 00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:58.159 We don't need to call a squad. 00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:02.399 Alright, if you have a pulse, things are gonna go sideways in life. 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:07.279 They either have, they are now, or they will, or they will again. 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:08.240 That's life. 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:09.759 We live in a fallen world. 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:21.840 And if you're going to endure and trust God in those moments, we have to understand that God is both the Almighty Creator and the one who calls us friends. 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:31.600 So when we get the bad news that we fear the most, maybe it's a diagnosis, maybe it's you lost your job, maybe it's who knows, you could fill in the blank. 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:41.840 But when you get that bad news, it's comforting to know that the Almighty God who placed the stars is still at work in his creation. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:55.600 And when we feel lost and alone and we feel adrift in this world, it's comforting to know that the God who calls us friends cares deeply for us and he's close to us. 00:16:56.399 --> 00:17:08.880 The writer of Psalm 147 reflects both of these attributes, uh, actually referring to the same event that Isaiah was talking about when things had gone sideways for Israel. 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.319 Excuse me. 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:15.359 Listen to what he says in Psalm 147, verse 1. 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:22.000 He says, Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him. 00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:30.400 The Lord builds up Jerusalem, he gathers the exiles of Israel, he heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:37.759 He determines, sounds very much like Isaiah, he determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:42.799 Great is our Lord and mighty in power, his understanding has no limit. 00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:45.680 How much of a limit there is on a God's understanding? 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:47.839 None, no limit. 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:49.039 He understands it all. 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:56.000 He's able to hold all the stars right where he wants them to be and give them all names, no matter how many names that is. 00:17:56.480 --> 00:18:00.160 Now we might hear this beautiful hymn of praise, and it is. 00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:03.440 There's exclamation points in our translation for a reason. 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:06.640 It's meant to be exuberant, it's meant to be exciting, right? 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:10.720 We might hear this exciting upbeat tone and get it twisted. 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:14.640 This was not written at a high point in Israel's history. 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:16.559 This is in fact quite the opposite. 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:21.519 It's written coming out of the worst time in Israel's history up to that point. 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:23.359 Something we call the exile. 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:33.039 See, after years of disobedience, God had allowed Israel to be carried off into another country, what we call the exile in Babylon. 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:37.200 Yet in all that time, God never forgot. 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:39.759 God never forsook his people. 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:45.359 God continued to bless and preserve them throughout that difficult time. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:52.640 And when we're in the middle of the storm, and we will be, God never forgets. 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:53.759 God never forsakes. 00:18:53.920 --> 00:19:03.039 Whether that storm is self-inflicted, something that we've done to ourselves, or whether it's done to us by someone else, either way, God never forgets us. 00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:05.519 God never forsakes us. 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:14.559 That's why we can sing songs like, Your love never fails and never gives up and never runs out on me. 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:16.160 Or how about this one? 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:19.440 Great is thy faithfulness. 00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:22.960 Oh God my Father. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:29.759 Now we couldn't sing those things and really mean it if God hadn't shown up in our lives. 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:36.480 You see, the psalmist here is confident and he praises God's transcendent power. 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:38.240 He's the Almighty. 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:42.640 He determines how many stars there are. 00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:45.440 And yet he calls them by name. 00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:52.000 He's the one who's close, he's imminent with us in our darkest days. 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:54.160 The message is loud and clear. 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:56.079 God can be trusted. 00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:58.880 God created each star. 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:03.359 God can be trusted. 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:07.599 He not only created them, he cares about them enough to give them names. 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:13.680 Now Jesus drives this point home even more clearly, appealing to another part of creation. 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:16.480 Listen to what he says in Luke 12. 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:22.319 He says in Luke 12, verse 6, are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:25.759 Sparrows is Bible speak for poor people's food. 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:28.960 Okay, so in our context, you might substitute fish ticks. 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:30.559 Who in here likes fish sticks? 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:32.240 I think they're gross. 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:38.240 I love fish, but bless your hearts, I don't get fish sticks, they are only vaguely a sort of fish. 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:38.880 I don't know. 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:39.920 They're gross to me. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.960 What about chicken nugs? 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:42.799 Anybody a nugs person? 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:48.319 Yeah, so this is sort of like Jesus saying, like cheap food, like a PB and J or whatever. 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:50.480 Sparrows were something that poor people ate. 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:53.920 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:57.200 Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:59.119 How many of them are forgotten by God? 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:02.720 Zero! Not one is forgotten by God. 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:05.599 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:07.839 Now, for some of you, that's a little bit easier than others. 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:10.000 Nevertheless, it's a pretty cool feat. 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:13.119 Not one of the sparrows is forgotten by God. 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:16.480 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:18.160 Don't be afraid. 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:22.720 You are worth more than many sparrows. 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:33.440 Now, notice that not one of these commonplace, like chicken nuggets sort of food, these sparrows, not one of them is forgotten by God. 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:40.079 Now, just in case the audience missed this point, Jesus dials it in more succinctly. 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:46.319 You crowd, you audience, are worth more than many sparrows. 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:50.480 Now, Jesus isn't here promising a life without difficulty. 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:52.559 Quite the opposite, frankly. 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:58.160 He's only promising that in the midst of it, he cares. 00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:59.759 He's not absentee. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.359 He's not indifferent. 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:04.240 He is with you and he's close as a friend. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:09.440 So to anyone who feels alone or abandoned, Jesus is with you. 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:12.319 You are worth more than many sparrows. 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:18.000 To anyone who feels discouraged by bad news, Jesus is with you. 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:22.000 You are worth more than many sparrows. 00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:26.400 Does that mean Jesus doesn't care about chicken nuggets? 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:34.240 Of course not! Notice not one of those birds falls and is forgotten by God. 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:35.440 Not one. 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:39.200 Of course, God cares about his creation. 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:45.680 God cares so much that he remembers all the birds used to make your lunch. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:49.039 Somebody say ooh. 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:55.119 It can be a gruesome prospect, I gr I grant. 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:57.200 Sorry, that made me laugh. 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:03.200 Of course God cares. 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:10.559 He named all the stars in the sky and placed them right where he wanted them to be. 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:14.319 It doesn't mean that God doesn't care about the rest of creation. 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:25.119 Rather, it means as much as God cares for the rest of creation, and he absolutely does, he cares for you and for me even more. 00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:29.359 So how much do you think God cares for us? 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:30.720 A lot. 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:31.680 A lot? 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:32.480 That much? 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:34.960 Way more? 00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:36.240 Way more? 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:38.799 Big as the galaxy. 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:40.400 Yeah, my arms can't go any further. 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:42.480 What does this gesture look like? 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:46.160 It does look like a hug, that's good. 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:47.440 Did you say a hug? 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:48.240 The cross. 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:49.200 Yeah, that's what I was. 00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:50.559 That's actually a good one. 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:53.359 A hug, but yeah, the cross is what I was going for. 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:58.960 Yes, this is how much God cares about you and about me. 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:09.839 You see, Jesus showed his love and his care by becoming human, by teaching humans and dying to restore humans. 00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:16.880 You know, Jesus willingly gave up his glory to become a baby? 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:19.759 Vulnerable, needing cared for? 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.880 Anyone have little siblings? 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:24.960 Any of the kids have little siblings? 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:25.839 Yeah. 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:30.880 When they brought the baby home, was it able to do anything for itself? 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:31.839 No. 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:35.279 What are the things mom and dad have to do for a baby? 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:37.039 You can shout them out. 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:38.640 Feed them? 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:39.519 Yeah, what else? 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:42.000 Change their diapers. 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:45.359 You know, the first service was really shy about that answer. 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:47.680 I'm like, come on, it goes with the territory. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:49.599 You're gonna eat, it's gotta come out, right? 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:51.440 Like, like, why are you shy about this? 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.640 This is a part of life. 00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:54.960 Do you know Jesus had poopy diapers? 00:24:55.200 --> 00:25:01.519 He had to be changed, he had to be burped, he had to be fed, he had to be carried, Joseph had to teach him how to do a trade. 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:05.279 Jesus didn't come with this stuff already installed in him. 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:08.480 He's fully human, just like you and me. 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:11.119 That means Mary had to rock him to sleep. 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:15.920 Why would the God of the universe endure that? 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:20.720 Because he cares about you and he cares about me. 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:23.519 Because he loves you and he loves me. 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:26.240 That's the only reason he would endure that. 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:29.440 The only reason anyone would sign up for that. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:36.079 You know, Jesus willingly taught, you ever read the gospels and you're like, these guys are knuckleheads, these disciples. 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:37.359 You ever think they're knuckleheads? 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:38.720 You can tell the truth, we're in church. 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:40.559 These guys are a little bit knuckleheads. 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:47.119 You know, Jesus taught and modeled righteousness to a bunch of self-centered knuckleheads like you and like me. 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:48.160 Why? 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:55.680 Because he cares about you and he cares about me because he loves you and he loves me. 00:25:56.880 --> 00:26:01.279 And Jesus willingly took our sins upon himself on the cross. 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:03.440 Do you know that we're the ones who disobeyed? 00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:04.400 It wasn't him. 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:07.839 He didn't break faith with us, we broke faith with him. 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:13.920 We're the ones who disobeyed, we're the ones who mistreated people, we're the ones who sinned. 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:16.480 He's the one who took it upon himself. 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:17.599 Why? 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:22.160 Because he cares about you and he cares about me. 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:25.279 He loves you and he loves me. 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:28.960 But Jesus doesn't just care about you and me. 00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:32.000 He doesn't just love those in the room. 00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:37.680 Just like the universe is vast, Jesus' mission is vast. 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:43.119 Like the stars in the sky, his mission is vast. 00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:48.880 You see, Jesus' mission is universal. 00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:53.599 He is restoring all of creation to how it was in the beginning. 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.480 Don't believe me? 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:56.960 Read the beginning and the end of the book. 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:59.839 Beginning of Genesis, there's a creation story. 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:03.039 End of Revelation, there's a recreation story. 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:07.759 Things being brought back to the way they were before sin entered into the world. 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:10.880 God is redeeming that which he's created. 00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:17.119 And in that process, God is drawing all people into relationship with himself. 00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:18.880 How many people is he drawing? 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:20.000 All people. 00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:21.680 Say it louder, like you mean it. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:22.640 All people. 00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:24.799 Yes, he's drawing all people. 00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:27.440 He desires to restore all people. 00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:28.319 How many? 00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:29.839 All people. 00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:34.240 Inviting all of us to love and follow Jesus for life. 00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:37.279 Now, some people will refuse that invitation, granted. 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:40.240 But the invitation is equally to all people. 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:43.440 God desires relationship with all people. 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:45.440 And God is relational. 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:50.880 He works in and through people like you and me to bring about that restoration. 00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:54.400 That work starts inside of us. 00:27:55.440 --> 00:28:02.720 As we trust God and as we obey God, God's grace transforms us more and more into the image of Christ. 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:10.319 However, we find out that our relationships don't end just with the vertical one with God. 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:13.839 They include relationships around us too. 00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:22.799 We're integrated into a giant family that has people from every nation, every tribe, every tongue. 00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:28.960 There are people in your spiritual family you never have met and you never will, at least not this side of heaven. 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:36.079 We are united with all people who love and follow Jesus, no matter where they come from, and it's called God's holy church. 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:42.000 And the Apostle Paul, who wrote a bunch of this that we call the Bible, calls the church Jesus' body. 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:44.079 Now that's a metaphor, it's not literal. 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:52.400 But in effect, the way the metaphor works, we're God's hand, we're Jesus' hands and his feet. 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:53.839 What's the purpose? 00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:59.519 Anyone under the age of 18, under the age of 18, excuse me, what's the purpose of hands? 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:01.279 Don't say to pick your nose. 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:03.279 That's not the correct answer. 00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:05.519 What's the purpose of hands? 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:08.240 Yeah. 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:10.400 So you can do stuff. 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.519 You read my notes. 00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:13.519 That's exactly what I was gonna say. 00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:14.559 To do stuff. 00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:16.000 Hands do things. 00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:19.839 Anybody in the age of 18, what's the purpose of feet? 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:21.599 Yeah. 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:25.599 That's how we get to places to do stuff. 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:27.039 So hands do stuff. 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:30.079 The feet take us to the places to do stuff, right? 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:31.359 That's the purpose. 00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:33.599 That's what that metaphor is meant to convey. 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:39.039 We're meant to do things, and we're meant to go places where things need done. 00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:42.720 You might be asking yourself, but Pastor Eck, where do I come in? 00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:44.319 Well, I'm glad you asked. 00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:46.960 Or maybe just in my head you asked. 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:56.640 What you should do, what you can do right now, is shine right where you are, shine where God has placed you. 00:29:57.279 --> 00:30:07.039 You know, just as God carefully placed each star in the sky right where he wanted it to be, God places us right where he wants us to be. 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:11.839 Sometimes I think we get intimidated because God's mission is so vast. 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:15.359 There's a uniform, universal scope of what God wants to do. 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:16.960 He wants to restore all of creation. 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:18.480 And we think it's too big of a job. 00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:20.319 And I get it, for us it is. 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:21.680 So where do you start? 00:30:21.839 --> 00:30:22.960 Start small. 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:26.160 Start right where you are now. 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:31.039 You know there are people right on your street, in your family, in your life group. 00:30:31.119 --> 00:30:35.519 If you're a student, they're in your classroom, or the people that work, they're in your workplace. 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:42.079 There are people in your life already, right now, today, that need reminded how much God cares for them. 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:47.039 And you can remind them, you can show them how much God cares in practical ways. 00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:51.039 You could do something like volunteer to help somebody who's struggling. 00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:59.759 Maybe you could be the one in your class who, when you get a new kid in class, takes the time to go over and make friends with them. 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:04.400 Maybe you could stick up for the person that other people want to beat down. 00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:13.119 Maybe, and this is a revolutionary one, you could be the one person in the room that listens to someone instead of talking at them. 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:19.279 Maybe you could simply just ask them out to ice cream or dinner. 00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:26.559 These sound like small investments, but let me tell you, there are no small parts in the kingdom of God. 00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:28.799 Every investment matters. 00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:32.160 Everything you do or I do matters. 00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:46.160 Every investment, every act of kindness, every action out of love for the Lord Jesus Christ not only honors him, but makes a difference in our world, even though we may not always see it. 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:52.079 In all these things, we let our light shine before others that they may see our good deeds. 00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:54.480 And what does Jesus say will result? 00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:59.519 They will glorify God by our good deeds. 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:05.599 Our small acts of caring and love resound throughout the created order. 00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:19.119 They bear witness, just like the stars do, they bear witness not only that there is a God, but that God that created everything cares about you and cares about me. 00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:22.160 He's invested. 00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:24.079 We matter to God. 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:31.119 So this is how I wanted to end to reflect on that, looking up to the skies. 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:38.799 Let us all lift up our eyes to the heavens and remember who created all the stars. 00:32:40.640 --> 00:32:46.799 Let us remember that God cares for that which God creates. 00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:54.240 That means he cares not only about all of creation, but specifically, it means he cares about us. 00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:58.000 And there's people who need to know that God cares. 00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:59.759 And maybe those people are in the room. 00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:04.240 And it's my hope that you hear that, that God cares about you. 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:07.119 Maybe it's somebody that you need to say that to this week. 00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:10.079 God cares about them, they matter. 00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:16.559 Let us look to the stars and remember God created them and God cares for what he creates. 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:18.079 Pray with me. 00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:20.640 Heavenly Father, thank you. 00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:24.240 Thank you for this message from Isaiah and Psalms. 00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:27.039 It is so comforting and from the Gospel of Luke. 00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:35.519 It is so comforting to know not only that you are the Almighty, and so we can trust you in big and small things, but also that you're close to us. 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:37.200 You care about us. 00:33:37.359 --> 00:33:41.279 You're not just all-powerful, but you're also all-caring. 00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:42.400 Thank you for that. 00:33:42.480 --> 00:33:54.880 May that penetrate our hearts and make a difference in our lives, and may we make a difference in other people's lives by reminding them in small acts of kindness, in small ways, how much you care. 00:33:55.359 --> 00:34:06.240 May we, every time we look at the stars, may we remember who hung them in the sky right where you wanted them to be, and may we praise you with our lives. 00:34:06.640 --> 00:34:10.800 Grow us in grace so that we become more like Jesus every day. 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:13.920 We ask you to be with us this week in Jesus' name. 00:34:14.239 --> 00:34:14.880 Amen. 00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:20.079 Thank you so much for listening to today's podcast. 00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:31.199 If you're ready to take a next step in your faith, please reach out to us through our website at refineryohio.com, or you can email us at office at refineryohio.com. 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:32.719 We hope you have a blessed day.