On March 13, 1969, the Apollo 9 returned to earth, splashing down near the Bahamas and retrieved by the USS Guadalcanal after an orbit that lasted ten seconds longer than planned.  It was the first manned docking and undocking, and included spacewalks which included a new spacesuit and backpack.  The primary mission was to evaluate whether the spacecraft was ready for landing on the moon, which occurred later in July when man first walked on the moon.

        “Words from Above” in the Bible tell us that Jesus, the Son of God, came to this earth in human form when He was conceived of the Holy Spirit of God and born of the virgin Mary.  He spent about thirty-three years on the earth, teaching and preaching about the kingdom of God for the last three years.  He was crucified on a Roman cross to pay the penalty for the sins of all the people of the world and then buried in a borrowed tomb. God raised Him from the dead to defeat the power of sin and spiritual death and to live forever.  He ascended back to heaven and promised His disciples to prepare a place for them in heaven, where they could join Him one day.

        He also promised that He would come back for them in an event which we call the Rapture, when He would gather them up out of the earth and take them to be with Him in heaven.  On the day of His ascension, two angels appeared to inform the disciples that Jesus would return in the clouds, just like they had seen Him go up into heaven.  Unlike the journey of Apollo 9, which had a specified time in orbit, no one knows how long Jesus will be gone from the earth and exactly when He will return.

        Crew members of Apollo 9 underwent extensive training and detailed preparations for their journey into space and their return to earth.  They had to depend on special spacesuits for their journey to ensure their safety on the trip and for their safe return.  Disciples of Jesus from the past and from the present will not need to rely on such spacesuits, but will be given what the Bible calls a glorified body suitable for travel through time and space to go to their heavenly home.  Faithful followers in the grave will be raised from the dead, and those alive at the time of the Rapture will travel to their eternal home in heaven.  Just like the crew of Apollo 9, all who wish to be a part of this wonderful heavenly trip need to prepare their hearts for it.

Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  For information, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.