The Infinitude of Space
By R.
It is impossible for the human mind to put any limit to space. We run out into the unfathomable abyss as far as imagination will carry us; and when we have reached the utmost limit and imagination carries us no farther, we can not say to ourselves, "Here is the end;" for immediately the only barrier we can conceive is something like to a huge wall, and beyond this exists still untraced and immeasurable space. We can imagine as much beyond our limit as exists this side of that limit; and we can call this distance a unit, and multiply it by any factor that we are pleased to choose,—a thousand, a million, or a billion times, any number of times,—and still we can think of as much space beyond as that which we have covered by our multiplication. Mathematically the human mind can find no limit to space. From this fact of mind, many argue that there can be no limit to space — that it extends out beyond forever, like eternity. But when we come to this decision, the mind is struck with the awful disclosure,—space without any limitation whatever! The mind grows dizzy with the thought; the heart is dumb with awe. Can it be so? Is there no limit to space? We will suppose it is evening. Look yonder at the Milky Way. "A band, or irregular stream, of soft light is perceived, with stars at intervals dotting its surface. We get an opera-glass, and look through it. Behold, many more stars are visible, with the band of light still beyond. We get a small telescope, and look through that. Very many stars may be counted; and still the band of soft light shines beyond. We go to an observatory, where a large telescope may be found; and through its great tube countless stars gleam forth, hundreds and thousands of them, where first, with the naked eye, we saw only a few twinkling specks; yet still the band of light shines on behind, unchanged. Lastly, we go to America, and observe the Milky Way with the most powerful telescope yet made. A wondrous company of innumerable stars glitter; yet, still, beyond and behind, we have, as ever, the dim, soft light, not even now done away, not even now resolved wholly into stars."—Agnes Giberne. Can we ever get to the end of it — this vast universe? Can we ever be able, no matter what our powers, to say, "This is the limit; we have seen everything in this direction"? Is there no limit to space? Have we no certain answer to this question? "Suppose that one of the highest order of intelligences is endowed with a power of rapid motion superior to that of light (186,000 miles a second), and with a corresponding degree of intellectual energy; that he has been flying without intermission for six thousand years, and will continue the same rapid course for a thousand million years to come. It is highly probable, if not absolutely certain, that at the end of his vast tour, he would have advanced no farther than the 'suburbs of creation;' and that all the magnificent systems of material and intellectual beings he had surveyed during his rapid flight, and for such a length of ages, bear no more proportion to the whole empire of Omnipotence than the smallest grain of sand does to all the particles of matter contained in the ten thousand worlds." "Were a seraph, in prosecuting the tour of creation in the manner now stated, ever to arrive at a limit beyond which no further displays of divinity could be perceived, the thought would overwhelm his faculties with unutterable emotions; he would feel that he had now, in some measure, comprehended all the plans and operations of Omnipotence, and that no further manifestations of the divine glory remained to be explored. But we may rest assured that this can never happen in the case of any created intelligence." And now the brain, lost in the frightful sweep of its thought, fairly swims in its efforts to comprehend the infinite. But is this all true?—It seems true; it seems reasonable, and almost certain. But in answer to this question, have we naught but speculations, and reasonings, and almost certain probabilities? Is there no word from God?—Yes. Wondering and questioning, I turn to His Word, and read: "Thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, . . . I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord." Jer. 31: 37. Ah, my soul, that Word must be sure. "Saith the Lord" comes as the introduction, and "saith the Lord" follows as the close. "Thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, . . . I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord." "Saith the Lord," and "saith the Lord,"—surely this must be true! And what is it that the Lord says?—He says that if heaven above can be measured,—not if you or somebody else can measure it; but if it can be measured, no matter how,—He will give Israel up, and thereby acknowledge that He has failed. If even His works can be measured by His creatures, then He acknowledges that He will no longer appear before them as God. He will give it all up. It will go on record that God has failed. But blessed be His name, He can not fail. He "never faileth." 1 Cor. 13: 8. "He shall not fail nor be discouraged." Isa. 42: 4. "Thus saith God the Lord, He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; . . . I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, . . . I am the Lord: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another." Isa. 42: 5-8. Israel will not be cast off, and therefore the heavens can not be measured. One is as sure as the other, and each is as sure as God is true. Space is immeasurable, and God has taken this fact as the everlasting foundation of one of His promises. Thus does He link His5Word and His works. And when you think of the awful infinitude of space, will it help you to realize the surety of His covenant? As you look out yonder into the abyss that reaches onward to the stars, yea, that stretches into an expanse as measureless as eternity, will your soul rise to the thought that thus there is no limit to all that He will do for your soul? God help us all to realize that forever and ever we shall be unable to see all that there is to see of His goodness, and of the “exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus,” even as we see, and ever as we see, that there is no limit to the infinite fulness of His works. May God’s promises be to us all this. And filled with thoughts of the majestic and stupendous power that upholds the soul who trusts in God, like Jeremiah when the truth was first revealed to him, may we say, "Ah Lord God! behold, Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by Thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for Thee." Jer. 32: 17. R.