The primary mirror of the Webb Space Telescope consists of 18 individual mirrors.

Each of these 18 individual hexagonal mirrors is 4.3 feet in “diameter”. They are connected to each other and aligned to function as one large mirror that is 21 feet 4 inches in “diameter”.

Each individual mirror is custom-made from rare, precious materials such as beryllium and gold. Why?

Beryllium is chosen for its strength, its light weight, and its endurance despite temperatures reaching as low as -364 degrees(F).

Gold is chosen for its adaptability and its shininess. Gold can be applied as a mirror coating as thin as 100 nanometers (about 1/1000 of a human hair). And gold can be polished to reflect light as perfectly as technologically possible. (Psalm 144:12 KJV).

Similarly, in our individual lives, God fashions us perfectly in the Way of Jesus.

God fashions each of us into the image of God. (Genesis 1:26-2:25). Each of us is custom-made to reflect the image of God!

This means that each of us is custom-made to overcome darkness with the light of the Spirit of the LORD.

This means that each of us is custom-made to overcome chaos with the wisdom of the Spirit of the LORD. (Genesis 1:1-2:3).

God fashions each of us to live in the Way of the LORD himself, teaching and training us to:

—be compassionate and gracious;

—slow to anger;

—abounding in love and faithfulness;

—maintaining love to multitudes;

—forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin; and

—punishing people as little as feasible.

     (Exodus 34:6-7)

Even though all of us have sinned and gone astray from the Way of the LORD—from the Way of Jesus—the LORD is like a good shepherd, a diligent housewife, and a compassionate father. The LORD spares no effort or humiliation to restore us fully to his image. (Isaiah 53:6; Luke 15:1-32).

What are the “materials” that fashion each of us to live in the Way of Jesus—in the Way of the LORD?

The Apostle Paul listed some of them:

—belts of truth;

—breastplates of righteousness;

—footwear of peace;

—shields of faith;

—helmets of salvation; and

—swords of the Word of the LORD.

     (Ephesians 6:14-17; Revelation 19:11-16).

The Apostle Peter told each of us how to become mirrors fashioned in the Way of Jesus—in the Way of the LORD:

[M]ake every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness knowledge; and  to knowledge self-control; and to self-control perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)

In this Way, no matter how far your life has gone astray, the Amazing Grace of the LORD will fashion you into the image of God.

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For additional thoughts arising from the Webb Space Telescope, please read my blogs “The Webb Space Telescope—Reaching the Place of Service”, “The Webb Space Telescope—Years of Preparation”, “The Webb Space Telescope—Liftoff!”, “The Webb Space Telescope: God’s Unfolding Plans”, “The Webb Space Telescope: Shedding “Whatever Entangles Us”, and “The Webb Space Telescope: Many Parts, One System!”

In my book Visions of the Church (published together in one volume with my book Visions of America), I use the troubled—but ultimately triumphant—flight of Apollo 13  as the narrative thread to provide an overview of 2,000 years of Church history in a mere 80 pages.

For information about the Webb Space Telescope, please check the official NASA information at jwst.nasa.gov.