“The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
Renowned for his discovery of the laws of planetary motion, Johannes Kepler is still a revered scientist today.
But did you know that he was also a devout Christian who sought to glorify God through science?
Born in the town of Weil der Stadt, Germany, on December 27, 1571, Johannes Kepler had a destiny to discover God through science.
The son of a soldier who was frequently away from home, Kepler spent much time being raised by his grandfather. Kepler’s grandfather was a Christian and endeavored to share his faith in Jesus with his grandson.
These formative years with his grandfather would leave a profound mark on young Kepler’s life and he developed a true and abiding passion for God.
Eventually his mother and father returned from their travels and Kepler went to live with his parents. His father, now an innkeeper and a drunkard, did not share his grandfather’s piety, yet Kepler maintained his passion for God.
As he was growing up, his incredible intellect was apparent to his teachers.
Though his options for education were limited by poverty and his father’s desire to use him for labor in the inn, Kepler applied himself and did the best he could. Eventually, he received a scholarship from the Duke of Württemberg which allowed him to continue his schooling.
In 1587, Kepler enrolled at the University of Tübingen.
Driven by his love for God, Kepler intended to get a degree in theology and serve as a minister. But God had other plans for him.
In 1594, Kepler was offered a position as the mathematics teacher at a school in Graz, Austria. After much prayer, Kepler believed this opportunity was from God and accepted the position.
This move put Kepler in a position where God would use him to make incredible scientific discoveries. Kepler found that, although he was not a minister, he could use his intellect to glorify God through science.
As Kepler studied the heavens, he became convinced more than ever that every aspect of life, including, if not especially, science, revolved around God. “The world of nature, the world of man, the world of God — all three fit together,” he said.
As Kepler studied astronomy, he recorded his observations in several books and calendars. His book Cosmic Mystery brought him to the attention of Tycho Brahe, the court mathematician to Emperor Rudolf II.
Tycho Brahe would eventually bring Kepler on as his assistant and Kepler inherited Brahe’s position when he died. Brahe’s extensive archive of planetary observations would serve Kepler well as he continued his studies.
It was through his research with Brahe at Prague that Kepler made his greatest scientific discovery: the three laws of planetary motion (often called Kepler’s laws).
Kepler recorded his first two laws in his 1609 book, The New Astronomy, and discussed the third in his 1619 work, Harmony of the Worlds.
Even when reporting his greatest discovery, Kepler was passionate about giving the glory to God.
Kepler gloried in God’s wisdom and couldn’t help but praise him when he wrote in Harmony of the Worlds that, “Great is God our Lord, great is His power and there is no end to His wisdom.”
Kepler’s desire to discover great scientific truths was driven by his desire to understand God and how He created the universe.
Kepler once said, “We see how God, like a human architect, approached the founding of the world according to order and rule and measured everything in such a manner.”
It was Kepler’s great passion to discover how God created the world, and his understanding that God created our universe with order and purpose allowed him to make his incredible discoveries.
Sadly, Kepler died from illness at the age of 58. His life was filled with tragedy, including a difficult childhood and the deaths of three of his children.
Yet through all the difficulties, Kepler loved God with a passion. He never sought his own glory, saying, “Let my name perish if only the name of God the Father is thereby elevated.”
Though he did not become a theologian as he planned, Kepler made the pursuit of God through science the passion and aim of his life.
We can take great inspiration from Kepler. Whatever our calling, we can use it to bring glory to God if we make pursuing Him the passion of our lives!
At the end of his life, Kepler was satisfied that he had lived a life that brought glory to God saying, “I had the intention of becoming a theologian … but now I see how God is, by my endeavours, also glorified in astronomy, for ‘the heavens declare the glory of God.”