Why You Might Not Want to Pick Up a Bible

I wish I understood density. I am “dense” at times, and not always able to comprehend the scientific mysteries of the universe.

NASA recently sent a Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) to the International Space Station. NICER represents the first mission to examine neutron stars. Neutron stars are collapsed stars with incredible density. How dense? It is thought one teaspoon of neutron star matter would weigh a billion tons on earth!

That’s right.

A billion tons.

I can’t wrap my brain around this number because I am anchored to this world where a ton is a ton. Ask me to point to a ½ ton pick-up and I will do so without a moment’s hesitation. Sometimes I have a hard time picking up a package and I will say, “This weighs a ton!” Actually, it is inconceivable I could pick up a ton by myself. But at least I can conceptualize how much I would be lifting if I could life a ton.

But a billion tons?

Whew! My arms hurt just typing it out.

This brings me to another dense topic: the Word of God. God’s word is also not of this world whether it is spoken or written.  It comes from the mind of God and has been revealed by the Holy Spirit and transmitted through faithful servants. Human words have the power to inspire and change the course of history. God’s Word can also do these things, but it also possesses supernatural qualities. God is all-knowing and His wisdom surpasses man’s capacity for understanding. We must presume God has only revealed truth we are capable of grasping and its impact on our lives is according to His eternal purposes.

Now that’s heavy.

The prophet Isaiah writes, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (55:9-11)

How dense it the Bible?

I read somewhere the Gutenberg Bible weighs 14 pounds.

The one I preach from weights much less.

But if we were to weigh any Bible by its spiritual density, I think the figure would be…

…to borrow a line from Buzz Lightyear…

…”to infinity and beyond!”

There is nowhere God’s Word can’t go and nothing it can’t do.

The next time you pick up your Bible be careful. It’s heavier than you think.