The Sacred Page

In that wonderful eleventh chapter of Hebrews, the writer says of faithful Abel, "and by it he being dead yet speaketh" (Vs. 4). The longer we live the more we learn how this is true of others.

For a number of us, our parents being dead yet speak. I don't suppose that a day goes by that I don't reflect upon my deceased parents. For many of us our parents remain the greatest influence upon us, even many years after they are gone. Whether consciously or not we still apply to our life decisions the standards and principles that they taught us.

Many a teacher, being dead, yet speaks. Every good teacher always becomes immortal to someone. Our college and university professors leave their mark on us, and perhaps even more so do the humble teachers of our childhood years. Especially do our Bible school teachers, who, though they may be gone, still speak.

Many a friend, being dead, yet speaks. The influence of a good friend is something that transcends death. It is not terminated with the death of a friend.

Many a preacher, being dead, yet speaks. No gospel preacher ever knows where the gospel he preaches is going or how far reaching it may be. Some, though they have never told him so, owe their lives to the preaching of some faithful man of God that the world at large will never know. Every person being dead yet speaks.

The scientific world has been abuzz with excitement recently with the "possible" discovery of life on Mars. Scientists believe they have found evidence of biological organisms on a Mars meteorite suggesting that life existed there some four billion years ago.

Many people are intrigued with the idea that we are not "alone" in the universe. Their idea of life in the galaxies does not include the concept of God, only of extraterrestrial life. Since 1960, scientists in America have been searching for extraterrestrial intelligence. Some years ago, Dr. Carl Sagan and Dr. Frank Drake were asked by NASA to design an interstellar communication system for the purpose of letting extraterrestrials know that we are here. Thus far, there has been no word from "E.T."

Why is there such an interest in life in outer space? Is there anything beyond the curiosity factor? Indeed! There are those who believe that if life evolved on earth, it not only could have evolved elsewhere, but must have done so. Again, some evolutionists feel obliged to believe in some form of life in space because they are convinced that this (if proven) will sound the death knell for the idea of creation. One writer said, "Religions which contend that God made man in His own image could be severely shaken if we found another intellectual race made in a different image." (Ian Ridpath, Signs Of Life, p. 13).

The Bible student is aware of the silence of the Scriptures on this particular matter. The Word of God does not suggest the existence of extraterrestrial life, nor does it deny such, but the evidence is strongly against such a notion. The earth has been appointed a unique role in the universe: "The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men" (Psalm 115:16). There are celestial bodies mentioned in Scripture -- sun, moon and stars (1 Corinthians 15:40-41), but the earth alone is said to be a dwelling place (Acts 17:26). It is a dwelling place created uniquely for mankind. The redemptive efforts of the God of heaven are limited to earth and the men of earth:

1. God's love was directed to this world in the giving of "his only begotten Son" (John 3:16).

2. It was on the earth that God became flesh "and dwelt among us" (John 1:1-14).

3. It was on the earth that Christ "went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil" (Acts 10:38)

4. In his death, Jesus was lifted up between heaven and earth (John 12:32).

5. It was on the earth that Jesus died for the sins of men (Hebrews 2:9)

It seems that some are more interested in a life that may be than in the life that now is and is to be. The abundant life eludes them. An imagined life engrosses them. Sad!