Dear Saints,
Are there aliens out there? In a recent article on CCN, Britain’s first astronaut said, “Aliens definitely exist,– and it’s possible they’re living among us on Earth but have gone undetected so far.” Helen Sharman, who visited the Soviet Mir space station in 1991, told the Observer newspaper on Sunday that “aliens exist, there’s no two ways about it.”
There is an old saying, “the proof is in the pudding” – right now NASA rovers are searching Mars for evidence of past or present life forms, but humankind’s endless fascination with extraterrestrial life forms has so far proved fruitless.
What is up with the fixation in modern society with the idea of aliens? What is the obsession and what is behind it all? It is not new. It encompasses a broad spectrum of beliefs and opinions, ranging from scientific curiosity to skepticism, from enthusiastic belief in extraterrestrial life to conspiracy theories. The appeal of the unknown and the possibility of contact with intelligent beings from beyond our world continue to captivate the human imagination and fuel ongoing exploration and discussion.
But guess what? Aliens exist! You should not take my word for it but take Peter’s:
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen.” 1 Peter 1:1
“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.” 1 Peter 2:11
Last Sunday Kurt preached from Hebrews 11 and it was said of the men and women in the Old Testament that, “All these great people died in faith. They did not get [receive] the things that God promised his people, but they saw them coming far in the future [from afar] and were glad [welcomed/greeted them]. They said [acknowledged/recognized that] they were like strangers [foreigners] and visitors [sojourners; refugees; resident aliens] on earth.”
If you are a real Christ follower, you are an “alien.” We dare not get too cozy down here on planet earth. One of Kurt’s questions that we discussed in our community group last night in light of 2 Peter chapter 3 dealt with the sort of people we ought to be in light of the fact that the present heavens and earth are going to be destroyed with intense heat.
Abraham was an alien, a stranger, a pilgrim and this Sunday we will examine Heb. 11:17-21. Yahweh asks Abraham to do the unthinkable, “offer up Isaac on the altar.” My title is, “The Final Exam.” Our Lord does not grade on the curve, it is – pass or fail! Meditate on the verses from Hebrews and read Genesis 22 as well.
Because we are not home yet,
Glen
P.S. Fall is in the air and winter is coming. Perhaps you noticed last Sunday that it was a bit cool in the sanctuary and for good reason because our old boiler is not functional. Our contractor is working to get the new boiler installed ASAP – in the next 2-3 weeks. If you are not from the north pole you may need to put on an extra layer of clothing.