I participate in a monthly lunch discussion we call “hot topic”. Last week we tossed out Elon Musk’s desire to see human beings become multi-planetary species. A similar discussion took place a few weeks earlier with a group of high schoolers in a logic class I teach at a local Christian school. It’s a an interesting idea to run through the Christian world and life view.
In Musk’s view, life on earth will become impossible due to the heat of the sun. Thankfully, we have some time (millions of years) to get our space travel sustainable and reliable, as well as planetary colonies habitable and self-sustaining. Much like the International Space Station, he sees the opportunity to have outposts of Earth in space. His belief is that this will ensure long-term survival of human civilization. He hopes to both travel and stay on Mars in the near future.
There are several biblical and theological principles to consider. Some of those are God’s purpose for creating Earth and space, the destiny of man, the meaning of human history, the curse of Adam’s sin imposed on all of creation, an end to God’s tolerance of sin, promises of cosmic judgment, assurance of cosmic redemption, and the story of the tower of Babel.
Several rounds of running Musk’s dream through the biblical world and life view lead to several conclusions. God made the earth and everything in it for man’s good and God’s glory (Genesis 1-2, Psalms 8 & 72). Adam was from the dust of the earth and all will return to dust (1 Corinthians 15, Job 10). The earth is specially habitable for human life and thriving (Jeremiah 5). God will judge man and earth at the last day (2 Peter 3). Creation will one day be restored, unbroken from sin’s curse and misery (Romans 8, Isaiah 65). God gave man dominion over the creation. As image bearers of the Creator, it is amazing to see what man can do (Psalm 8). In the last 150 years, electricity, medicine, engineering, computers, and space travel have amazed us all. I’m sure we can get to Mars, even staying there for a time is likely. But God has set boundaries of time and space (Psalm 74). He does not allow men to get “too big for their britches” (Genesis 11). I’m biblically and theologically sure that God will control the end, an not in nuclear apocalypse or “sun burn” (Revelation 21).
It has been said that the creation and all that is in it, is a theater for God’s sovereignty and glory. That God exists can be understood by what is seen (Psalm 19, Romans 1). That God can be known is best shown in Christ Jesus, the living Word. The pages of Scripture tell us our purpose, destiny, and way of salvation. They also tell us that while we may travel here and there, men are from earth.