Have you ever been to a place or seen something that you had thought about most all your life? I had that experience last week when we walked into the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. As soon as you come through the doors, there it is, the lunar lander from the Apollo Moon missions. It took my breath away. RuthAnn said I looked like a kid in a candy store and I am sure that was true. But it did not end there.
Right off to the side are two actual capsules one Mercury 7 and the other Gemini IV. Standing so close to them and looking inside the cockpits I could not even imagine the courage and maybe craziness that it took to climb into this cramped space, have those doors sealed you in and all the while sitting on top of a rocket that basically is going to explode you into outer space.
When I was a kid I watched those missions from beginning to end. Our flickering black and white TV showed the Astronauts, starting with Alan Shepard, walking calmly in their silver space suits (I think they were only silver during the Mercury missions), riding the elevator to the top where white suited technicians would squeeze them in and seal the door behind them. Then would come the countdown. Everyone would hold their breath and when the count reached… zero, liftoff an eruption of flame and the rocket would slowly head into the heavens. You could almost hear the collective sigh of relieve. Then I would feel this unbelievable sense of joy and hope. I did not want to miss a moment. And I must not have been alone, because even at school our principal would broadcast updates and special bulletins. These missions and the heroes that flew them became ingrained in my imaginative youth.
Now here I was over 50 years later standing within feet of those worshipful idols of my youth. I am sure some of you who lived through that exciting time can relate. And if you are like me reliving those days even for a moment can bring back all that joy and hope from that long-gone youth. Pretty cool stuff!
After leaving the museum we had already had a long day, so we decided to stay on the tour trolley for the rest of the afternoon until it would take us back to our ‘metro’ station. During that ride I had plenty of time to contemplate how a couple of piles of metal could evoke such emotions. I was shocked to see that these pieces of ‘space junk’ were really the only symbols of hope I had throughout my formative years. In fact, I could see that it was through them and all the technology that developed from the space program that I began my life as a hardened atheist.
I am sure to some of you this seems a little strange. Especially those that I remembered saying missions to space helped them to see how vast our universe is and how big God must be. But all I could see was that if we could put a man on the moon there was nothing man could not do. And with every advance in technology I would trust more in the man-made world and it left no room for God. I put all my faith in ‘us’.
Problem was that there was a huge hole in my theory! I did not see it for years because I wanted to believe there was an answer or a solution to all problems. Just a little more thinking or just a little more research but, of course, it was not true. And it was not until I was open to see, “we all fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) that I had to reckon with the fact that all the technology in the world cannot give us hope.
Don’t get me wrong! I think technology is a wonderful tool and the accomplishments done during the space race still astound me. But now I see them through a different lens, the Bible. And to tell you the truth it gives me a better perspective on just where this world stands. You see there is a prophecy in the ancient book of Daniel that says this, “But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” (Daniel 12:5) We are told that at the end of time we will all be in a hurry and knowledge will increase at the same frantic pace. Right after this there is an amazing time prophecy Daniel goes on show us we are in that ‘time of the end’ and anyone who is interested there is a website called Amazing Facts that explains it all, check it out!
But today I know where my heart is and even as technology will continue to increase, I no longer place my trust in it. My hope now is in the soon coming of Jesus Christ and the promise that comes with it, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) I will return to the Smithsonian, soon I hope, and recall the days gone by but now when I do all the praise goes to God, for the heavens and earth really do show His glory.
Blessings John
4/2/18
