To Glorify God: Johannes Kepler

The science of astronomy studies the heavensplanets, 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