Yesterday, March 14, 2015, is what is referred to as Pi Day. That is, the date of 3/14/15 represents the first 5 numbers in the numerical value of a constant first calculated by mathematicians prior to the third century A.D. Pi is used in a number of calculations, including the circumference of a circle, the area of a circle and the volume of a sphere. In fact, at 9:26:53 (both a.m. and p.m.) the next five digits of Pi also fell into place. And it will be a century before this most famous number lines up with the calendar again.
I have to admit that at some much earlier time in my life, when I was in school, I knew all these formulas backwards and forwards. But that was a number of years ago and most of those formulas have long been forgotten through lack of use.
But there is a very interesting tie in with the Bible. Most of us recall that for years there was great debate about whether the earth was round or flat. In fact, early explorers to the New World had trouble getting financed because their potential backers were worried about the explorers sailing off the end of the world. And the most famous of these explorers was Christopher Columbus, who sailed to the New World with three ships and is credited with the discovery of America and other places in North and Central America.
But why did Columbus dare to make the journey when so many others were terrified of heading off the edge of the earth? Well, he was a believer and was familiar with a certain passage of the Bible that he believed assured mankind that the God of the universe had created a round earth and not a flat earth. Of course, years later, the travels of Columbus and others confirmed what he thought and mathematicians used Pi to calculate the circumference of the earth as well as its volume.
Our verse for the evening is the verse that Columbus read that convinced him that the earth was round. And that verse comes from the prophet Isaiah. We are told, in Isaiah 40:21-22, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.” Did you catch the reference? God sits enthroned above the “circle” of the earth – in the translation, meaning a “sphere” – and that means that the earth isn’t flat – it’s round…
And isn’t it incredible that a verse out of the Bible is the reason that Columbus decided to head out across the ocean to the New World? How interesting! My encouragement this evening is that God has placed clues everywhere around us to help us get through life. We just have to look for them and live our lives expecting miracles. We won’t be disappointed. My prayer tonight is that we may all go through life with the faith and confidence in God that Columbus demonstrated when he set sail to America. It’s far better to live bold than play it safe – and that’s what God expects of us! Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…