Last night, at 1.07am BST, I watched the Artemis II crew splash down in the Pacific Ocean. All the conditions were perfect at re-entry, the crew were healthy, and the mission around the moon and back was a success. Parachutes descended gracefully as a watching world held its gaze, with cheers from NASA’s mission control room leading the celebrations.
Although I haven’t been following every moment of their space flight, I have captured glimpses of the glorious images of the Earth and Moon, fun videos of the crew, and have read comments of how people have genuinely felt they ‘needed’ this. Many echoed how it showed the best of humanity, in contrast to all of the pain and struggle around the planet. With baited breath, their return out of the six-minute communication blackout at the point of re-entry brought a palpable sense of relief. They were home.
The Rescue
As I watched ‘Integrity’, the space capsule carrying the four astronauts, bobbing on the surface of the deep, I found myself reflecting deeply, too. There are many individuals who worked together to make this happen. All of them contributed something to ensure a safe flight to the moon and back. I couldn’t possibly begin to break down all of the various roles and responsibilities involved in a NASA mission! But I simply got this thought from watching the Navy surround the capsule and begin the process of retrieving the astronauts.
Watching the film Apollo 13 and all of the wonderful edits made me think this wouldn’t take too long. Clearly, I was an expert in space travel because of this, right? I was ready to watch them emerge as soon as they hit the water! How wrong I was! This whole process could take up to two hours! There were many procedures to follow. I didn’t think I could stay up that long (but somehow I did!). The astronauts had to wait to feel fresh air, to be assisted out as their bodies adjusted to gravity again, and as many skilled professionals who had trained years for this, arrived on the scene at the right time.
The Greatest Mission
The capsule that carried them safely home through space, heat, air, and water, remained shut. Only someone outside from the recovery team could open the hatch, whilst others assembled the raft for the astronauts to stretch out on.
There it was for me.
God is our shield (Psalm 28:7). Only He can rescue us from the dominion of darkness and death. He opens the hatch of our hearts for salvation. We take up our shield of faith as we trust in His plan. He knows far much more than we do about our hearts, just like NASA know far much more than the average viewer.
Jesus cares deeply for each one of us, so much so, that He was the One who went on the greatest mission this world has ever known. God in the person of Christ stepped down from heaven and entered our planet, taking on flesh and blood, in real space and time. Forget spacesuits. He became human.
Being fully God, yet taking on human flesh, His mission was to rescue us. It was life or death. He came to save us from the clutches of the evil one, to trample death, to bring hope and healing, to restore broken humanity by binding it up by His perfect righteousness, and to bring us home with Him, because He loves us. This was always His plan. Only God who is rich in mercy and love toward sinful humanity, but is also completely and perfectly holy and just, could undertake this assignment on behalf of us.
He is mission control all-in-one.
The Ultimate Purpose
He spoke the cosmos into being ‘in the beginning’ (Genesis 1:1) and He upholds the universe by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). Our home is more than this Earth. It’s more than the moon or Mars. We do have purpose here. But our ultimate purpose and the chief end of man, is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. It is to be a part of God’s kingdom and family, on earth as it is heaven.
Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved from sin, shame, darkness, and death. Without Him, we are like astronauts who remain in the capsule, when God has already opened the hatch. He has made a way for us to know Him, to receive new life, and to finally rest from all of our burdens. We may have had quite the adventure, but without Jesus, there is no lasting meaning to any of it. We are here today and gone tomorrow, for life is like a breath or a vapour. But with Jesus, we have all we will ever need for this life and for eternal life with Him. Like the raft that supports the weary astronauts, the everlasting arms of Jesus promise to never let us go.
Artemis II pilot Victor Glover is a disciple of Jesus. Before he went on this mission, it was reported that he said, “We need Jesus—whether here on Earth or orbiting the Moon.” Amen, brother. He knew that he needed Jesus every step of the way. Prayer, praise, and the power of God sustained Victor at every point of this incredible flight. And the light of Christ was displayed throughout his journey.
I pray many more people will be in awe of Jesus through this mission. The wonder of the universe truly declares the power, majesty, and glory of Christ (Psalm 19:1). However, rather than focusing on the ‘next step’ for humanity, I pray we will all long to be in ‘right step’ with God. The hatch is open. The greatest adventure awaits. It will be the ride of your life.
With Jesus as our Pilot and Commander, there is no safer place to be or firmer foundation to hold onto. The sky is not the limit. The universe does not begin to scratch the surface of all His glory. As you look up at the sky, whether waiting for astronauts to return home, or to catch glimpses of galaxies, remember the One who put them there in the first place. Jesus is on His throne and will reign in glory, forever and ever.
“Once for all I have sworn by my holiness;
I will not lie to David.
His offspring shall endure forever,
his throne as long as the sun before me.
Like the moon it shall be established forever,
a faithful witness in the skies.”
Psalm 89:35-37
Ruth Clemence 