“He made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the springs of water” (Revelation 14:7, ICB).
OUT OF THIS WORLD
It was Christmas Eve, and three men were a very long way from home. Bill, Jim, and Frank weren’t even on Planet Earth. The three astronauts were in the Apollo 8 space capsule, orbiting the moon!
From their distant viewpoint the crew saw light rays creeping across Planet Earth. The sun was brightening the little blue planet so far away.
The three astronauts had been waiting for this moment. Astronaut Bill Anders adjusted himself and began speaking into a microphone. “We are now approaching lunar sunrise,” he said, “and for all the people back on earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you.”
What are the astronauts about to tell us? people wondered.
“‘In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth . . .’” The astronaut was reading Genesis 1:1,* the very first verse in the Bible! He continued reading, and then astronaut Jim Lovell took over.
“‘And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.’” This, too, was from the Bible’s story of Creation—Genesis 1:5. Astronaut Lovell kept reading, and then it was the third astronaut’s turn.
“‘And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.’” Astronaut Frank Borman continued reading from the book of Genesis. “‘And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.’”
Awestruck by the beauty and wonder of what they were seeing from outer space, the astronauts felt the need to praise Someone bigger than themselves. Astronaut Borman closed with these final words: “God bless all of you, all of you on the good earth.” With that, Apollo 8 continued circling the moon.
THINK ABOUT IT
■ Why does Satan want people to believe in evolution instead of God as Creator?
■ Why is it important to God that people honor the seventh-day Sabbath instead of Sunday or another day?
TODAY’S PRAYER IDEA
Pray that God will show you more of the wonders of His creation. Ask Him to help you to always honor the seventh-day Sabbath no matter what.
* The verses the astronauts read were from the King James Version.
