Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
John 15:5 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
Psalm 8:3-4 “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?”
Before Astronaut Buzz Aldrin left earth, he recognized the need to commemorate the upcoming moon landing in a personal and profound way – with a reverence that the moment deserved. Along with his Presbyterian pastor, Dean Woodruff, he crafted a plan to take communion on the surface of the moon. That is exactly what he did on July 20th, 1969, over 200,000 miles from home.
After landing on the surface of the moon, Buzz Aldrin transmitted the following:
“Houston, this is Eagle. This is the LM pilot speaking. I would like to request a few moments of silence. I would like to invite each person listening in, whoever or wherever he may be, to contemplate for a moment the events of the last few hours, and to give thanks in his own individual way.”
Then, Aldrin took communion and read John 15:5. It was a solemn way to mark a monumental occasion.
When asked about it later, Aldrin said the following: “It was my hope that people would keep the whole event in their minds and see, beyond minor details and technical achievements, a deeper meaning — a challenge, and the human need to explore whatever is above us, below us, or out there.” According to this hero of humankind, it was appropriate that “some of the first words spoken on the moon were the words of Jesus Christ, who made the Earth and the moon.”
As we conclude this series on the 50thAnniversary of Apollo 11, we are reminded that we must carry the truths of our faith with us. Wherever we go, Christ must be elevated. There is a deeper meaning to the lives we live, and our presence and our purpose must be to challenge others to consider the maker of the heavens, and the earth, and the stars, and the moon.
PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO CARRY CHRIST WITH US THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES.
