Will Mankind Ever Conquer Outer Space?

When Atlantis returned to earth last week, it marked the end of America’s space shuttle program. Will other nations take the lead in space, or will humanity’s cosmic dreams slowly fade? Will we ever conquer that “final frontier”?

The return of the space shuttle Atlantis last week ended 30 years of shuttle missions. And so, 50 years after Alan Shepard became the first American in space on Freedom 7 in May 1961, the United States no longer has a way to launch a person into space.

It’s like a chapter has ended for America’s quest for space. But is the book over? Or will there be more chapters ahead?

Humanity destined to rule God’s creation

God created mankind to rule. When He created Adam and Eve, He gave them dominion over His creation on earth. God told them to “fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28).

Humans have ruled and conquered the earth, often abusing it and each other in the process. But even though we have traveled in outer space, we have not conquered space like we have the earth. Why?

Our dominion presently limited to the earth

Our manned space flights have basically been limited to the proximity of the earth. We have traveled to the moon and back, but humans have not ventured deep into space.

The Bible tells us in Psalm 115:16, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men.” Right now we have only been given dominion over the earth, not the other planets, solar systems or galaxies. But God has a lot to say about our future in outer space—things that many have never heard or imagined!

Thinking the unthinkable

King David often gazed into the night sky and pondered, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet” (Psalm 8:3-6).

The New Testament quotes this passage and adds, “For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him” (Hebrews 2:8).

It hasn’t happened yet, but God intends for mankind to inherit the vast universe!

The universe is waiting for mankind

As we have seen from photographs, our moon and many of the planets and their moons are damaged and in a state of decay. But God did not create them that way (Isaiah 45:18). The earth was damaged to become a wasteland (Genesis 1:2).

This is why Romans 8:19, 21 says, “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. … Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”

A great mystery revealed

Yes, this “restoration of all things” (Acts 3:21) is a mystery to mankind. Why? Because mankind has been blinded to this truth by Satan, the fallen archangel Lucifer. This restoration is a part of the spiritual truths of God that became hidden after the sin of Adam and Eve.

Concerning this glorious future of mankind, the apostle Paul wrote, “The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery” (Colossians 1:26-27).

Paul also quoted from the Old Testament, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

A wonderful future

Long ago God planted a growing universe (Isaiah 51:16). In it He made perhaps 70 sextillion stars (7 with 22 zeros) and some 100 to 200 billion galaxies for an inheritance for you and me. Of course, these are just estimates of the universe based on what we can perceive from our tiny corner of it.

As mere humans, we can’t comprehend such size and numbers. Nor can we imagine such a future.

Contrary to what is popularly taught, the righteous will not go to heaven and just look at Jesus’ face for all eternity. No, we will be working with God the Father and Jesus Christ, enjoying the fruit of our labors, perhaps helping with the restoration of the vast universe.

Even though a chapter has ended with America’s manned space program, there will be another chapter. And that chapter will be more incredible than we can imagine. So take time to look at the night sky and ponder your future.

For more about that promised future, see The Mystery of the Kingdom.

Tim Groves is a member of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association. He and his wife, Teresa, along with their four children, live in South Carolina.