O
ur world is complex—and people have always been searching for answers. Astronomers, physicists, theologians, and philosophers have approached life’s mysteries with respect and wonder. In search of a theory of everything that would explain the world, scientists have dug deeper into the mysteries of the universe and explored amazing connections. Yet a theory of everything has not been found. “If God created the world, His main concern was certainly not to construct it in a way that we could understand it,” world-famous physicist Albert Einstein is reported to have said. AN ANCIENT QUEST
Devotional
Searching for the Theory of Everything
The Pharisees in Jesus’ days were also searching for the theory of everything. What holds the world together? What can everything be reduced to? They searched for it in the Torah. The commandments were the core of God’s revelation. But which is the greatest commandment? This question was a popular debate among the scribes. It seemed impossible to answer. Therefore the scholars asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” (Matt. 22:36, NIV). Jesus’ answer quickly summarized God’s revelation: Love God and your neighbor as yourself (cf. verses 37-40). Here it is, the theory of everything that holds everything together. Love in three dimensions: love of God, love of my neighbor, and self-respect. We may not always understand clearly love for God or the value of self-respect, but loving our neighbor is very concrete. Jesus knew what He was talking about when He said, “Love your neighbor.” After all, He Himself loved His neighbors unconditionally. He treated every person with respect. Jesus knew how to give each person a sense of worth: Zacchaeus, the woman He met at Jacob’s well, and the Photo: Hal Gatewood
