Space, the final frontier
These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise
Its five year mission
To explore strange new worlds
To seek out new life
And new civilizations
To boldly go where no man has gone before
-Star Trek: Opening Monologue
Okay, I admit it, I’m a Trekkie. Star Trek, the original series, ran from 1966-1986. In other words, I grew up watching it. This was the time of space exploration in America. I remember watching all the rockets lift off and the modules splash into the sea when the mission was over. My fascination with space will always be with me. If all this makes me a geek, well, in this post, I’m letting my inner geek out.
Another space related fact: according to something I read at a Hubble exhibit, every time Hubble is pointed out into deep space, it records new galaxies. How absolutely amazing – every time! But then, why wouldn’t it? God is the one who creates the galaxies, and He is a creating God, so why would He stop creating? That means, Hubble is capturing God’s creations in space. To me, this is absolutely fascinating! Can you imagine, standing beside God in Heaven as He is creating a new galaxy? The thought of being able to do this, is so amazing. Really there are no words to explain how much this experience would fill me with awe.
God’s House
To think, God is creating all of this, not only for himself, but for us as well. Read John 14:1-14 below.
14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” [NIV]
It’s ironic and presumptuous for us to call churches and cathedrals here on earth, ‘God’s house’. There are some amazing buildings out there, but none can compare to the house God is preparing for us in the heavens. On clear nights I like to look at the constellations, the Milky Way, and if I’m really lucky, the Aurora Borealis. I imagine that I will be able to see these amazing views and much more, all the time from my window in my heavenly room.
Believe
I know many are skeptical, even the disciples were skeptical as we have read. However, God knows how much the natural world plays into our sense of understanding, well-being and peace. When answering Philip’s questions, Jesus answered in verse 11, “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.” Some people come to know Jesus when they see God’s works in nature and the heavens. Others will come to know Him through His miraculous works in their lives. Either way, it is God’s hands that are molding and shaping not only the heavens and earth, but also our lives. All we need to do is believe in Jesus as our Savior and give Him our life. He will create something so beautiful out of our lives as well, it only we let go and let Him do the creating.
Heaven, the final frontier
These are the journeys of the Christian Saints
Their life-long mission
To explore the mind of God
To seek our new life
And Heavenly civilization
To boldly proclaim God’s word to all mankind
Photo credit: Markus Oblander/imageBROKER/Shutterstock
