A telescope, microscope, and horoscope

Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that’s not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything. (Colossians 2:9-10)

A telescope is used to make distant objects - sometimes quite far off from us - appear larger, so we think they are really closer than they are. The term 'telescope' can also be used to describe the placement of one slightly smaller object inside the other, allowing a larger object to be collapsed into a smaller space. Many people think God is so far off that he is not able to be reached. They feel the distance and try to contrive ways to bring him 'closer' without really changing their position. Isn't that the purpose of the telescope? It brings a far off object closer in appearance, but it never changes either the position of the person looking through it or the object of their focus, does it? It is sad to have to say this, but we cannot remain firmly footed in our sinful lives and expect a once a week visit to the local church to bring God closer to us. We never change our position - we just want it to appear that we have!

A microscope makes the most miniscule object appear to us - things that escape the naked eye or could not accurately be seen without the aid of the magnifying power of the lens. The sad fact is that most of us don't really 'see' God as he is - we don't fully appreciate him in all his power and passion. We get glimpses through is Word, but that is merely a microscope to describe what we need to come to experience ourselves. In high school I was introduced to the use of the microscope. We gathered up some pond water, added a few drops to a slide, then placed that slide under the lens of the scope. In short order we were gazing upon these little squirming 'lives' before us. What was so tiny so as to be totally missed otherwise was exposed under the lens. While I got to 'see' the tiny creatures, I never got to experience them. They didn't impact my life. God doesn't just desire to be 'known', he desires us to experience him. 

A horoscope is 'divined' by the use of a chart of the heavens, laying out the stars and planets, looking at certain 'positions' of these objects. I don't know about you, but we can make our minds believe almost anything if the things we 'hear' are something we want to hear. If we hear something contrary to what we want to hear, it can create fear or dread. The prediction of future events through the position of the stars and planets isn't how any of us should determine our behavior. Who created the stars and planets? If we can answer that affirmatively as "GOD", then why are we consulting the creation rather than the creator? God actually discouraged his creation (you and I) from using this type of 'prediction' (Deuteronomy 18:10-14; Isaiah 47:13; Micah 5:12). God ALONE knows the future - to attempt to divine the future through any other means than what is revealed by him to us through is Spirit, the Word of God, and biblical teaching is really dishonoring to God. Our behavior and actions are to align perfectly with his will revealed in his Word. 

God is there for our discovery - not through a telescope, microscope, or horoscope. He will require us to change our position - we draw near and he holds our his arms to welcome us in. He will reveal so much of himself that we won't be fearful we haven't experienced all he has to offer us. He won't allow us to bumble along without direction or purpose, but will open up our understanding and directed in our purpose. The only thing we need is a willing heart - say 'yes' to following Jesus and all the 'scopes' can be discarded. He is there for our discovery - plain and simple - experiencing the depth, breadth, and depth of his love and grace over and over again until we are overcome by it all. Just sayin!