Current Events & Trends: Is there life beyond earth?
Human beings are fascinated by the possibility of life on other planets, perhaps in other galaxies and within other solar systems. Ironically, we don't have to look out into space to see whether life exists beyond the earth. We have only to look into the pages of the Bible, a source too often ignored or even avoided.
In early August, America's space agency NASA achieved spectacular success in landing Curiosity, an automobile-sized roving laboratory, on the surface of Mars after an 8½-month voyage through space and a supersonic plummet through the Martian atmosphere.
It landed within Gale Crater near the equator, which, as the Associated Press reported, "scientists think is a place where water once flowed—a good starting point to learn whether microbes could exist there" (Aug. 4, 2012).
The report continued: "Life as we know it requires three ingredients: Water, energy and carbon. The missing piece so far is finding carbon. One of Curiosity's main tasks is to drive to the mountain, chisel rocks and dig into soil in search of the elusive element."
Of course, this is referring to physical life. The Bible reveals that there is indeed life beyond this earth that does not need these ingredients—spirit life. God the Father and Jesus Christ live beyond this earth in heaven, as do many angels.
As to whether something like microbes exist in space or on other planets, the Bible does not tell us. Were we ever to find such a thing, it still would not support theories of life from lifelessness and evolution. As all physical life, it would still require a Creator.
Yet there is certainly no indication in Scripture that human or other intelligent physical life exists beyond this earth's boundaries. Remarkably, however, the Bible shows that one day human beings will be made immortal and will inherit the entire universe (Revelation 21:7). God gives to humanity the opportunity on this earth to learn to govern our lives today so we can live forever with Him tomorrow.
An Article from:
Good News Magazine: September - October 2012
Course Content
Jerold Aust
Jerold Aust has served in the ministry for 52 years, as a public speaker for 58 years, a published writer for 38 years, and is employed by UCG’s Media and Communications Services. He is a Senior Writer, interviewer, and editor for Beyond Today Magazine and has taught Speech Communication for UCG’s ministerial online program and the Book of Revelation for ABC.
Jerold holds a BA in theology from Ambassador College, Pasadena (1968), an MA in Communication from California State University, Fullerton (1995), a distance-learning Ph.D (2006), and a Famous Writers School diploma in non-fiction writing (1973). Additionally, he studied post-grad communication at University of Southern California (1995), radio, TV, voice-overs, and Public Relations at Fullerton College (1995-1996), and graduate communication at Wichita State University (1978). Jerold has taught communication at the University of South Alabama (7 years) and ABC (17 years). His published works include, Ronald Reagan’s Rhetoric: Metaphor as Persuasion and EZSpeakers: Public Speaking Made Easy in 7 Steps. Jerold's overarching goal is to share with humankind its incredible destiny!
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
