There are areas in some galaxies that have a large cluster of new stars forming, new suns being born. In this area of the Small Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy to our Milky Way, a rash of infant stars is being born. This starburst region, the nebula NGC 346, alone contains more than 2,500 infant stars.
As Christians we all know about periods and places, both biblical and in the history of the Church, where God moved in mighty ways and a large number of new members of his eternal family where brought suddenly into the world, to shine like bright new stars in the spiritual constellation of heaven. In the beginning of Church, Peter preaches to the assembled crowd drawn to the location by the commotion surrounding the coming of the Holy Spirit and in one fell stroke almost three thousand new spiritual children shone forth the glory of God.
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:40-41
Like the plethora of infant stars shining forth in nebula NGC 346 of the Small Magellanic Cloud, the crowd of new Christians responding to Peter’s preaching must have appeared as a breathtaking sight to the host of heaven observing the day’s events.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses…Hebrews 121:1a
Indeed! What a great sight that rash of new infant children of God must have been, like stars bursting into effervescent being with blinding and eternal beauty.
Let us never forget the eternal significance of the birth of a new child of God. It is only because we cannot see the whole picture, on every level and plane of existence, that we are not overwhelmed with the majesty and glory of it all.
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