The Speed of Light

An event happened several weeks ago that I can't get off my mind. Researchers at the CERN lab near Geneva claimed to have recorded neutrinos travelling faster than the speed of light. That may not seem important to the average person, but for the scientific world it was huge; huge because according to Einstein's theory of relativity nothing in the universe can travel faster than the speed of light in a vacuum (186,282 miles per second). This has been a standard in the world of physics for over one hundred years. This has left the scientific world in a state of shock. In an article in the British paper, The Telegraph, Professor Jenny Thomas, of University College London, says the claims if proven true would call into question our very understanding of physics and the universe. She said, "It would turn everything on its head. It is too awful to think about."

Wait a minute. Isn't every declaration from the scientific community unassailable truth? Are they not as gods who have infinite knowledge and wisdom? And don't they look upon those who question their infinite wisdom as poor unintelligent fools?

So, let me see if I've got this straight. Could it be that they don't possess all of the knowledge of the universe after all? Perhaps they don't have as much knowledge as they thought. Could it be the theory of evolution will also soon be proven wrong? Will they soon discover that the age of the universe isn't thirteen billion years old after all? Will they soon discover that global warming isn't man-made after all? Will they soon discover that life begins at conception after all? Will they soon discover that homosexuality is a chosen lifestyle after all? Could it be that there is actually a God who created this world and rules over it with absolute sovereign power? Could it be that all will stand before Him to give account--and all will be found wanting; all have broken His law. Could it be that our only hope is to trust in the Gospel of Christ--that He died on the cross to bear the penalty that we deserved? Could it be?

Oh, the foolishness of man. How hard it is to humble ourselves before the absolute wisdom of God. He alone is the source of all truth, absolute unassailable truth.

What's in a Life?

What's in a life? A man is born and he lives out his days, and then he dies. Solomon pondered such things. "What advantage does a man have in all his work which he does under the sun? A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever" (Ecclesiastes 1:4-5). With a cynical heart he concludes: "I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after the wind" (Ecclesiastes 1:14).

As I consider the life of Steve Jobs I'm not quite so cynical. Born February 24, 1955, he died on October 5, 2011. What can be said of his 56 years? Surely under his oversight Apple Inc. developed technologies that have transformed the world. Besides the Apple/Mac Computer, the iPod and iTunes changed the way we listen to music, and in 2007 the iPhone swept onto the scene with technology that changed the way we connect with the world. In addition, his involvement with Pixar changed the way we view animation. The effect a single life can have upon the world can be enormous.

But we must never forget the source of all things. God raises up and brings down. Every invention, every idea is governed by His infinite wisdom and sovereign reign. All wealth is distributed by God. Steve Jobs was what he was by the sovereign hand of God. Every dollar of his $8.3 billion in net worth was by God's design. "The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts" (1 Samuel 2:6-7). In the end every man will stand before God to give account. At that time things become very simple. We will either stand before Him in our sin and declared guilty and condemned or will we stand before Him in Christ with our sins forgiven and covered by a righteousness not our own. Most know Steve Jobs was a Buddhist. Perhaps a devout Buddhist. Perhaps a sincere Buddhist. But without Christ there is no way to deal with the issue of his sin. In the end no amount of wealth will serve as a substitute for Christ. "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul" (Matthew 16:26). Perhaps Solomon was not so cynical after all.