Expansive

When we consider creation not only all around us, but also the intricacies of the human body, we can gain an appreciation of our Creator God. Psalm 8 says:
1b O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

It has been reported by none other than Chuck Norris in a WND.com article which was cited by Movieguide, that astronaut Buzz Aldrin quoted from that Psalm during the Apollo 11 mission, the one in which he and Neil Armstrong walked on the surface of the moon.  In this era, in which space exploration is returning to the American consciousness, we can be prompted to think about the testimony that creation gives to each individual, demonstrating the existence of a Creator and the evidence of design that is all around us.  And, the Bible clearly identifies who that designer is. 

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In Psalm 19, we can read about the expansive reach of our Creator God, the One who made the heavens and the earth, which give honor and glory to Him. The first few verses of the Psalm state:
(1) The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
6 Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

There has certainly been a fascination with respect to space travel, and there is anticipation that Americans could land on the moon once again.  But, it seems to be three steps forward, two steps back. For instance, earlier this month, USA Today reported:

The lunar lander Odysseus finally powered down Thursday one week after it became the first U.S. spacecraft to land on the moon since NASA's Apollo era came to an end five decades ago.

Ground controllers didn't expect the 14-foot-tall cylindrical lander to last nearly as long as it did when telemetry data beamed back to Earth indicated Odysseus had toppled onto its side Feb. 22 after skidding onto the moon's surface. But even from its sideways position, the uncrewed robot – built and operated by the space company Intuitive Machines in Houston – was able to transmit photos and data to Earth during its weeklong stay on the moon.

And, just last week, a SpaceX rocket, the largest ever, was launched; SpaceNews.com reported that the rocket, dubbed the "Super Heavy" made a smooth takeoff, fired all of its 33 engines, then, as the article says:

The booster then performed burns to attempt what SpaceX webcast hosts called a “soft splashdown” in the Gulf of Mexico, where it would not be recovered. However, the landing burn did not appear to go correctly, and the company later said that the booster broke apart 462 meters above the ocean after lighting several Raptor engines for a landing burn.

The Starship upper stage performed its burn, placing the vehicle onto its planned suborbital trajectory. It avoided the fate of the previous Starship launch in November, when the vehicle broke apart late in its burn after catching fire while venting propellant.

Judging from that report, the test has been regarded a success by NASA and SpaceX, even with its imperfections. 

Chuck Norris wrote a piece the other day for WND.com, prompted by the Odysseus landing.  A Movieguide article referenced the Norris column, stating:

While most Americans recognize Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins as the crew of Apollo 11, the mission that first brought man to the surface of the moon, many Americans do not realize that these men had deep ties to religion.

“The truth is, Armstrong was a Christian (not a Muslim as some falsely reported), Collins was a nominal Episcopalian, and Aldrin was an elder at his Presbyterian Church back in Houston,” Norris explained.

Even more shocking and underreported, Aldrin took communion before he and Armstrong left the lunar module to take the historic first steps on the moon.

 A Movieguide article by Katherine Harrington stated:

Aldrin was an ordained Presbyterian minister who received backlash after quoting the Psalms in flight. Reportedly he carried an index card with John 15:5 on it. Aldrin concluded the mission by reciting Psalms 8.

As the three men began their descent they all par-took in communion, praising God for His provision.

Apollo 11 is a miracle mission.

Charles Duke, the capsule communicator of Apollo 11 said ‘Abort, CAPCOM, Abort.” as the ship was about to strike the rockiest surface of the moon. Miraculously, the ship survived the moon landing a success.

On Apollo 16, Duke then became the youngest person to ever walk the moon during Apollo 16.

“My walk on the moon lasted three days. My walk with God will last forever,” Duke said at the time.

Although it took Duke six more years to recommit his life to Jesus the moon brought him to the feet of Jesus.

Harrington also notes:

James Irwin an astronaut on Apollo 15 said, “As we got further and further away, it (The Earth) diminished in size. Finally, it shrank to the size of a marble, the most beautiful you can imagine. That beautiful, warm, living object looked so fragile, so delicate, that if you touched it with a finger it would crumble and fall apart. Seeing this has to change a man.”

That previous Movieguide article also noted:

The Apollo program was, in fact, saturated with Christians who were adamant about making faith a highlight of their mission. During the first manned mission that orbited the moon, the Apollo 8 crew read Genesis during a broadcast of their orbit. Microfilm Bibles were also aboard the Apollo 12, 13 and 14 missions.

I believe that collectively we are fascinated by space exploration.  And, the thought of human beings traveling to the moon yet again is certainly an exciting prospect.  There are signs in the skies and the story of God's handiwork that can be found throughout.  The heavens, which declare the glory of God, Psalm 19 says, can testify to the existence of a mighty Maker who created, as Genesis says, heaven and earth.  And, he has created us, who are described in Psalm 139 as "fearfully and wonderfully made."

I also want to highlight that people will be looking to the skies on Monday, April 8, as a total eclipse will be visible throughout North America.  While the Faith Radio broadcast area will not be in the path of totality, still there might be plenty to see - just don't look directly into the sun!  This demonstration in the heavens can be yet another opportunity to discuss spiritual things.  This occurrence can provide the means through which we can discuss the Creator of sun and the skies.