By David Brooks | Founder and CEO of Divine Timing Ministries
A Cross in the Cosmos: How the M51 Galaxy Strengthens Our Faith
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured this remarkable X-shaped structure across the nucleus of M51 in 1992. (Credit: NASA/ESA)
🎧 AUDIO NARRATION BY DAVID
Listen to David explore how the M51 galaxy and creation itself strengthen our faith in the Creator.
Church family, have you ever walked through an art museum and stood before a masterpiece? You see the brush strokes, the colors, the composition, and you know—without a doubt—that an artist created it. You may not have met Picasso, but you know he painted his masterpieces. You weren’t there when he created them, but the painting itself testifies to the painter.
Or think about walking past a magnificent building. You didn’t see the architects draw the plans. You didn’t watch the builders construct it. But the building itself declares that someone designed it, someone built it.
Ray Comfort often uses this analogy with atheists. He says, “If you see a painting, you know there’s a painter. If you see a building, you know there’s a builder. So when you see creation, how can you deny there’s a Creator?”
And now, church family, we have something even more spectacular. Something that’s taking our breath away and strengthening our faith in ways we never expected.
THE M51 DISCOVERY: A CROSS IN THE COSMOS
In 1992, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured an image of the Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as M51, located 31 million light-years away. And right across its brilliant nucleus, Hubble resolved something remarkable—a dark, X-shaped, cross-shaped structure silhouetted against the light.
NASA’s own headline said: “NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope Resolves a Dark ‘X’ Across the Nucleus of M51.”
This isn’t a manipulated image. This isn’t someone’s imagination. This is real. This is what God’s creation looks like 31 million light-years from Earth.
THE HEAVENS DECLARE HIS GLORY
And it makes me think of Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”
They declare it! They proclaim it! The universe itself is preaching the gospel of God’s glory.
And Paul writes in Romans 1:20: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
Without excuse! When we look at the precision of the cosmos, when we see galaxies hanging in the void with cross-shaped structures, when we see the mathematical perfection that allows stars to form and planets to orbit, we are without excuse.
JOB’S ANCIENT WISDOM: “HE HANGS THE EARTH ON NOTHING”
Job 26:7 says, “He hangs the earth on nothing.” Think about that! Thousands of years before we understood gravity, before we knew the earth floats in space, Job declared that God hangs the earth on nothing.
And Job 9:9 mentions that God made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades—the constellations. Job knew that the heavens declare God’s glory.
FAITH STRENGTHENED: THE CREATOR KNOWS YOU
So when skeptics say, “Where is your God?” we point to the heavens. We point to the cross-shaped structure in a galaxy 31 million light-years away. We point to the fine-tuning of the universe, the precision of physical constants, the complexity of DNA.
And we say, “The heavens declare the glory of God!”
Church family, this isn’t just about pretty pictures from space. This is about faith. This is about knowing that the God who created the universe, who formed galaxies with cross-shaped structures, who hung the earth on nothing—this God knows you. This God loves you. This God has a plan for you.
When you’re going through trials, when you’re facing uncertainty, when you’re wondering if God sees you—look up. Look at the heavens. They declare His glory. They proclaim His work.
The same God who created M51, who formed the cross structure in that distant galaxy, who fine-tuned the universe for life—that God is your Father. And if He takes care of the galaxies, how much more will He take care of you?
SOURCES & REFERENCES
- NASA Science – Messier 51 (The Whirlpool Galaxy):
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/explore-the-night-sky/hubble-messier-catalog/messier-51/ - Fox News – Universe’s Beautiful Fine-Tuning:
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/universes-beautiful-fine-tuning-leaves-atheism-facing-biggest-question
🙏 THE ABCs OF SALVATION
Church family, this isn’t just about pretty pictures from space. This is about faith. This is about knowing that the God who created the universe, who formed galaxies with cross-shaped structures, who hung the earth on nothing—this God knows you. This God loves you. This God has a plan for you.
The Creator is calling. The heavens are declaring. Will you respond?
- A — ADMIT You’re a Sinner (Romans 3:23)
- B — BELIEVE Jesus Died and Rose (Romans 5:8)
- C — CONFESS Him as Lord (Romans 10:9)
Pray this from your heart: “Lord Jesus, I admit I’m a sinner. I believe You died for me and rose again. I confess You as my Lord and Savior. Write my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
⚡ 5-MINUTE ACTIVATION: LET CREATION STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH
Take 5 minutes today to let creation strengthen your faith in the Creator.
Step 1: READ Psalm 19:1 & Romans 1:20 (60 sec)
Read these verses aloud. Declare: “The heavens declare the glory of God. I am without excuse. Creation testifies to the Creator.”
Step 2: PRAY the Faith Prayer (90 sec)
“Lord, I thank You for the heavens that declare Your glory. Strengthen my faith through Your creation. Help me to see Your hand in the universe, in my life, and in the cross-shaped structure in M51. If I have never surrendered my life to You, I do so now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Step 3: ACT (60 sec)
Tonight, step outside and look up at the night sky. Spend 60 seconds in awe, declaring: “The heavens declare the glory of God!” Write down one way you’ll trust the Creator more this week.
⏱️ Total time: 5 minutes. 🔥 Result: Faith Strengthened. Awe-Inspired. Trusting.
Church family, this isn’t just about pretty pictures from space. This is about faith. This is about knowing that the God who created the universe, who formed galaxies with cross-shaped structures, who hung the earth on nothing—this God knows you. This God loves you. This God has a plan for you.
So let creation strengthen your faith today. Let the heavens declare to your heart the glory of God. And if you’ve never surrendered your life to the Creator, if you’ve never received the forgiveness of your sins through faith in Jesus Christ, there’s no better time than now.
If you enjoyed this study, drop me a comment below. And if you’re not saved, the ABCs of salvation are in this article. Follow them to the letter. The King is at the door.
Maranatha. The King is coming.
