The history of the telescope can be traced to before the invention of the earliest known telescope, which appeared in 1608 in the Netherlands, when a patent was submitted by Hans Lippershey, an eyeglass maker. Although Lippershey did not receive his patent, news of the invention soon spread across Europe. The design of these early refracting telescopes consisted of a convex objective lens and a concave eyepiece. Galileo improved on this design the following year and applied it to astronomy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_telescope
The telescope was and is one of the greatest instruments for searching the heavens or peering across the cities to find our what’s on the other side. But to answer our question— What Are You Looking For? we need to turn our gaze inwardly, to explore our hearts, our minds, and our soul.
Might I direct you to consider some of these questions as you explore—
1. Why is there anything?
2. Did a God create all there is? Or did it always exist? Or did it evolve from some primordial ooze?
3. Why do you exist? Not just because you were born…, but what is your purpose(s) in being on this earth?
4. Why do you seem to have a moral compass? A sense of right & wrong? Is it merely cultural?
5. Do things just happen? Or do you sense some behind-the-scenes plan? Can you recalculate as you grow?
6. What is that One Thing you want out of life more than anything else?
7. What is the One Thing you must do before you die to make a difference? To leave a legacy?
8. If you could change anything in this world, what would it be?
9. If you could change anything in your own life, what would it be?
10. What else matters that you want to effect?
Yes, I’ve pondered all these questions more than once; and come up with different answers as I’ve grown and changed through my experiences and perspectives on life. “Is Jesus Christ truly God incarnate and has He genuinely granted me a place in His Kingdom by His side?” is one question I roll around on an almost weekly basis. Faith is not a solid thing: it is a dynamic organism.
If you believe you have all the answers, then you haven’t discovered most of the questions. When I was young in my Christian faith, I had all the answers…, just not all the questions. The Westminster Confession of Faith grounded me in Truth. But it left out some things— miracles, individual revelations, calling, spiritual intuitions, and, forever that bugaboo, gut feelings.
So when I ask What are you looking for? I’m right there beside you, wondering about so many things myself, even though I am basically established, my Christian faith is still that…- faith.
Honor God, honor people, make a difference,
Gary
Dr. Gary Davis, President
NEXT— What are you looking for? Pt.2
Clueless Christianity 