Is mankind Alone in the Universe?
Jun 16, 2019 22:32:17 GMT -5
Post by Radrook Admin on Jun 16, 2019 22:32:17 GMT -5
Is mankind Alone in the Universe?
This is a question which is very urgent for atheists since not believing in a creator makes them depend on other things for the emergence of even the simplest microscopic life form. So to answer it from their viewpoint, one would have to take into serious consideration their abiogeneis view and reach the very distasteful conclusion that yes, if life depends on abiogenesis, then indeed mankind is alone since life cannot emerge via abiogenesis.
However, if we consider the question from a Christian viewpoint, which accepts the Bible as God's letter to mankind, then we don't hold that dismal view. Why? Well simple, because we then accept that the emergence of life doesn't depend on such an unobservable mindless and utterly impossible process. Better still as Christians we are assured that mankind is not alone because there are creatures called angels in a spirit realm called heaven who were created prior to mankind and who are called sons of God. Which means that we, as descendants of Adam who was called a son of God, are related to them via having the same heavenly father as our progenitor. In short, we are family.
Job 38:
4Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
7while the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
They are also referred to as the host of heaven and Gods's holy ones.
1 Kings 22:19
Micaiah continued, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and on His left.
Jude 1:14
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: "Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones
Micaiah continued, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and on His left.
Jude 1:14
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: "Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones
Mankind is described as originally created a little lower than the angels:
Hebrews 2:
6But somewhere it is testified in these words: “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him? 7You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor 8and placed everything under his feet.” When God subjected all things to him, He left nothing outside of his control. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him
6But somewhere it is testified in these words: “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him? 7You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor 8and placed everything under his feet.” When God subjected all things to him, He left nothing outside of his control. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him
Still, some might not be satisfied and perhaps wonder whether God has created still other creatures apart from angels and mankind. Creatures that are not spirits but are material creatures like us who dwell in our material universe composed of stars and galaxies. They point to the sheer size of our universe and find it inconceivable for it to be completely empty of living things. After all, why create all that space and matter for what would to them amount to nothing?
Other Christians understand Bible verses saying that the heavens glorify God as referring to other beings on other worlds who have never suffered a fall as mankind did and remained faithful. Well, if this is true, we certainly aren't clearly told. Instead, the impression is that Earth and mankind are God's main focus and that the rest of the universe is even literally affected by what happens on Earth in our relationship to its creator.
However, if indeed there are any creatures who were made in his image on those far-flung worlds, the vast distances and insurmountable dangers and vast unimaginable distances indicate that he wants us to stay apart at least for now. In any case, if there are others out there similar to us, those who go to heaven and rule with Christ as kings in his kingdom will know the answer for certain. For now, what is considered important is that we place our faith on the Ransom sacrifice offered by Jesus for our salvation. The rest is in God's hands.