It absolutely had to work..

I have always been a fan of the U.S. space program. Above, you see a picture of the Apollo 17 lunar module ascent module stage, after it had rocketed off the lunar surface in 1972. The spacecraft was preparing to dock with the orbiting command module. Inside the lunar module, were two astronauts who had relied on this clumsy, awkward looking spacecraft to get them off the moon. Look closely and on the bottom you will see the "mission-critical" rocket engine which absolutely had to work, in order to get the astronauts off the moon and start their return to earth. Interesting thing about that rocket motor was that to save weight, it was designed to use very corrosive fuel which meant that the engine could not be test fired on the ground prior to flight. So, the first time the engine was ignited was in an absolutely critical time on the surface of the moon. If it didn't work, there was no repair possible. If it didn't work, there was no back up plan. The astronauts would be doomed to perish on the surface of the moon, where they would remain for all time.

As you may suspect, I have a spiritual analogy for this "mission-critical" theme of this space exploration saga. The Bible says that the lamb of God (Jesus), was slain before the foundation of the world. Therefore, the plan to redeem mankind after the "mission failure" of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, was designed and planned long before man's original sin. The plan would have to be flawlessly executed. There was no back up plan. If the plan was not carried out, then mankind would be doomed forever and would perish for all eternity.

One night in a Garden called Gethsemane, Jesus, the lamb of God, prayed that if there was another way to carry out this critical plan to save mankind, it could be accomplished. Then he said ,"not my will but your will be done". In essence, Jesus acknowledged the "mission-critical" nature of the plan to redeem mankind...including the crucial element known as the cross of Calvary.

It was absolutely essential that the plan of redemption be accomplished. When the day to execute this plan arrived, Jesus flawlessly executed the plan. But, instead of two astronauts being saved from peril, it was now billions of human souls who could be saved, if they believed and accepted this plan to redeem them.

After the astronauts returned from the moon, they traveled to the Grumman corporation factory to thank the designers, engineers, and workers who had built the spacecraft that performed it's mission so flawlessly. They were keenly aware that, because the "mission critical" rocket engine worked, they were saved from perishing on the lunar surface.

Today, it is time to say thank you to Jesus for carrying out his mission so flawlessly. The scripture known as John 3:16 states the mission concisely:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life".

It absolutely had to work...and it did.

Not only did it work, but it is still working today.

Blessings,
George