On December 20, 1996, the eminent Cornell University astronomer, Carl Sagan, made his greatest discovery. Perhaps you remember Dr. Carl Sagan as the host of the acclaimed television series "Cosmos", which extolled and explored the grandeur of the universe. And perhaps you recall the statement he made in 1980, for which he is best known, "The cosmos is all there is, or ever was, or ever will be." According to a CNN news story, Dr. Sagan's "lifelong passion was searching for intelligent life in the cosmos. 'The significance of a finding that there are other beings who share this universe with us would be absolutely phenomenal, it would be an epochal event in human history,' Sagan once said." (1)
I agree with Dr. Sagan wholeheartedly, and on December 20, 1996, Dr. Carl Sagan realized his lifelong dream. On that day, he experienced the revelation of something so far beyond his "cosmos", that he could only utter four words to describe it. Even his staggering intellect could not understand or explain what he was experiencing. It was, perhaps, not the revelation for which he had hoped, but it certainly far exceeded anything he could have possibly imagined. For you see, on December 20, 1996, Dr. Carl Edward Sagan left this world and entered eternity. And at that moment, falling to his knees, he could only confess, "Jesus Christ is Lord".
I do not know what was in Dr. Sagan's heart while he was allowed the privilege of walking on this small planet in God's great physical universe. I do not know what his relationship with God was. I do not know what opportunities he had to embrace the truth, that God had chosen to express inexpressible love for him. And I do not know whether or not, perhaps even in his last hours, he chose to accept that love, despite what he is purported to have said from his hospital bed. (2) What I do know is that we are all eternal beings. What I do know is that he is now a believer. But sadly, his confession may have come too late, "for it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment". (Heb. 9:27) And the judgment is simply this, "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned." (Mark 16:16)
In this life we are given sufficient revelation of the truth, and ample time to accept it. After death, it is too late; for faith is not needed when all is revealed and the truth is self-evident. (Heb. 11:1)
The ultimate truth is this: "that at the name of Jesus very knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:10-11)
The issue is not if you will confess it; the issue is when you will confess it. For surely everyone will. I do not mean to disparage Dr. Sagan, for as I said, I did not know his heart. Only God did, and the final judgment belongs to Him. But let us all take fair warning that this life is short and our time is precious, and that "the Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
Testifying To Truth, our confession is inevitable, but it is far better to confess sooner and inherit the blessings than later and suffer the consequences. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
(1) http://www.cnn.com/US/9612/20/sagan/
(2) http://users.tpg.com.au/users/tps-seti/sagan.html (Under "A Speaker For Earth")
Thursday, November 15, 2007
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