A little over a hundred years ago man's most common mode of transportation was the horse and buggy or stagecoach. There was a hitching post in front of almost every store and church. Communication was by mail or the newly devised telegraph; there were no telephones, no radios, no televisions, no computers, no airplanes; electric trolleys and limited railroad transportation existed. These technical amenities are now accepted as an essential part of our modern society. Perhaps the outstanding achievement of the twentieth century was man's conquest of space. The construction of a machine that would lift him into orbit and finally launch him into space for a landing on the moon was considered the final frontier. Today, we have numerous communication satellites some 25,000 miles above the earth in stationary orbits, and a space station has been placed in orbit, circling the earth at about 250 miles where astronauts can live for months; space shuttles make regular visits to replace personnel and equipment. Unmanned space probes have been sent to explore Mars, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and points beyond. Close-up photographs have been taken of many of these celestial objects.
Now, man can actually look down on earth, and one of the most beautiful pictures of all is the one of planet earth taken from space. There we see a beautiful blue and white orb floating in the blackness of space, like a jewel on a piece of black velvet. The realization that one is looking down on the habitation of some five billion human beings, plus numerous animals and plants is awe- inspiring to say the least. The inescapable impression is that truly, out of all the planets, the earth was uniquely "made to be inhabited." But, beautiful as it is, and unique as it is, the earth is "waxing old as a garment." The curse of sin rests on this lonely planet, and not only are its inhabitants dying, but so is the earth itself. Decay and death is the lot of the human race and we are told that eventually the heavens and the earth will pass away.
Even though this earth and its inhabitants are doomed, Jesus, the Creator, who imposed the curse because of man's sin is not subject to it, for He has conquered death. His words state that those who accept His plan of salvation have a way of escape from this approaching doom. "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of God shall stand for ever" (Isa. 40:8). "Those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;...they shall run, and not be weary: and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isa. 40:30,31). Soon there will be a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness, for creation shall be delivered from the bondage of decay (Rom. 8:21). The redeemed of earth will have the privilege of a space trip to heaven, "the final frontier."
