Mars Landing - Just in time for Christmas!

MARS LANDING – JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

This week, as the US Space Agency NASA managed to land a robot on Mars, there was a tense seven minutes as the probe hurtled towards the surface of the planet in radio silence.

Recently, as the US Space Agency NASA managed to land a robot on Mars, there was a tense seven minutes while the probe hurtled towards the surface of the planet in radio silence.

The objective of this project was to study the interior of the planet, making Mars the first planet (other than Earth) to have been examined in such a way.

Many scientists hailed the project as being a great success, and several other launches, including one in 2012, were all leading up to this moment. The initiative is estimated to have cost just under $20m.

This project, which combined the skills from some of the best scientists and engineers in space exploration, cost millions of dollars and took years to accomplish. And, while my initial thought was that this is an impressive achievement, my second thought was: how great is our God.

All this work and effort is the height of human technological development and we have only just landed on the nearest planet to us. Compare this to the God who spoke every planet into existence. In that single moment, God brought into being planets and solar systems that we might never even realise exist.

One of my favourite parts of the creation account in Genesis is after God has created the sun and the moon, when scripture says: ​“He also made the stars”.

That displays the power of God: He made the galaxies, the billions of planets and stars that make up the universe He created at will. Thousands of years into human history and we have only just landed a robot onto the nearest planet.

In that single moment, God brought into being planets and solar systems that we might never even realise exist. Our God is a big God, a creative God, and yet, perhaps, the most amazing thing is, that despite being the God and sustainer of the unnumbered celestial bodies, He cares about each and every one of us.

As Christmas is only weeks away, may we remember that we are celebrating the all-mighty creator God, who humbled Himself enough to step down into one of those billions of planets to be born, and then to die on a cross to make salvation possible for us. He who is above everyone and everything chose to die on a cross for us!

As Philippians reminds us: ​“Christ Jesus, Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2: 6 – 8).

Landing on Mars is a brilliant feat of human ingenuity (by God’s grace), but what a reminder that our God is greater than anything we could ever achieve. Our God is the all-powerful creator and sustainer of everything, and yet He cares about our individual needs and concerns.

What needs can we hand over to our creator God today? As we prepare for Christmas, how can we remember our mighty, creator God who chose to save us?

Sam joined the Evangelical Alliance in September 2018 as the Public policy officer for Wales, he also serves as a County Councillor in Swansea. Prior to working for the Evangelical Alliance Sam has worked for both a Welsh Member of Parliament and an Assembly Member. He graduated from Cardiff University with a Certificate of Higher Education in Religious and Theological Studies before graduating with a degree in theology from Union School of Theology. Sam is married to Jess and is a deacon at his local church.