Galileo Galilei is considered the father of modern science and made significant contributions to physics, astronomy, cosmology, mathematics, and philosophy. Most notably, Galileo is better known for providing evidence that the Earth was, in fact, not the center of the universe.
Before Galileo presented his observations and studies, the world believed in the Aristotelian view of the universe. The Greek philosopher Aristotle believed the Earth was round and that it was the center of the universe. He theorized that the Sun, Moon, planets, and all the fixed stars revolved around our world.
This highly accepted belief held steadfast for thousands of years until Galileo came around and provided observational evidence for Nicolaus Copernicus’ mathematical heliocentrism theory. This theory, supplied by Nicolaus, is an astronomical model in which the Earth and planets revolve around the Sun at the center of the Solar System. The acceptance of a heliocentric model was considered heretical by the reigning Catholic Church, and as a result, Galileo was imprisoned and forced to recant his position.
Nearly 70 at the time of his trial, Galileo lived his last nine years under comfortable house arrest and wrote a summary of his early motion experiments that became his final great scientific work. Galileo was also largely vindicated years later through other scientists, mathematicians, artists, and other reputable people.
Galileo’s story reminds me of how we also tend to think the world revolves around us. Sometimes we feel everything subsists for our benefit, comfort, or entertainment. Many “gurus,” tell us it’s “all about you,” “get yours,” “you owe it to yourself it,” “focus on you only.”
However, the truth of scripture provides a different perspective; we’re here to make God the center of our universe and serve others.
Daily Directive:
Answer and Journal the Following
Read:
Read and meditate on Matthew 22:37-40 for yourself.
Pray:
Who or what are you making the “center of your universe”? Be real; be honest.
Meditate / Make It Real:
Pray and create a plan on how you will center your life around God and his Word.
Share / Show:
Share this with that fellow brother and have them hold you accountable.