Rocket Explodes
A massive explosion shook the Florida coastline Thursday when a rocket owned by Blue Origin went up in flames during testing. The rocket was not set to launch until next week, but malfunctioned and exploded after refueling (see the massive fireball here). Blue Origin is a private company that participates in NASA’s Artemis program, which recently successfully sent four astronauts around the moon, and which aims to land on the moon in the coming years.
Analysis and eternal perspective: First, we praise God for no fatalities or injuries. Given the massive size and scope of the explosion, this is significant cause for gratitude!
Next, this story illustrates the significant danger of space exploration, a fact that always sits on one side of the decision scale when determining whether and how to explore space. On the other side of that scale are tremendous achievements and potential in learning, communications, and all manner of additional disciplines.
As Jesus followers, you and I comprehend only the tiniest sliver of the miracle of creation! Mankind has visited exactly zero planets other than the one we inhabit, and if you want to make your head hurt, tune in to one of the many ongoing debates about the total number of planets. But be forewarned you will be dealing with numbers in the hundreds of sextillions, and that is simply for the tiny portion of the universe we’ve been able to observe!
It is beyond our comprehension! But this much we know: God is bigger than big, you are smaller than small, and yet He knows the number of hairs on your head (Lk. 12:7)!
Also, can you imagine the day when you will have eternal access to the new heaven and the new earth (Is. 65:17, Rev, 21:1)? No, me either! But that day is coming, my friend! So as our human efforts to explore more of the universe experience ebbs and flows, remember you will soon know in full (1 Cor. 13:9-12)!