The Unknown

“Space, the final frontier.”

   Any fan of Star Trek will recognize the quote above as the lead-in to each episode of the show.  A ship of very diverse individuals seeking new life throughout the vastness of space.

   Many books have been written about explorations into the unknown.  The movies and television are filled with tales of bravery and exploration.  I think many of us enjoy this type of entertainment because we would like to be part of one of those adventures.  Whether it be across the continents, over the oceans, deep into the seas or into space we seem to have a yearning for the unknown.

   I think this search for the unknown is because something is missing within us.  We aren’t satisfied with our current condition and these explorations offer hope of achieving that satisfaction.  If we can just find that perfect place our lives will finally be complete and we can quit searching.

   The place we are searching for is Eden.  It is the perfect relationship with a loving and caring God.  We had it at one time but lost it due to our sinfulness.  It can never be regained in this life.  “The Lord God therefore banished him from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he had been taken.  When he expelled the man, he settled him east of the garden of Eden; and he stationed the cherubim and the fiery revolving sword, to guard the way to the tree of life.”  (Gen 1: 23-24)

   We still yearn for our original selves; the ones who were family of God and experienced all that His love had to offer.  The many explorations we undertake are, I believe, in some way an effort to find that joy and knowledge of God.  Yet we are barred from it in this world.

   Through sinfulness we lost the garden of Eden and the tree of life.  But God did not abandon us.  History is the story of God’s efforts to rehabilitate us through His love and mercy.  He has even given us a tree of life that we can find in this world.  It is the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord.  The cherubim and sword blocked our way to eternal life, but Christ came to remove the barrier and offer us salvation and the path to heaven.  He gave His life for us on the cross and it became the tree of life through His sacrifice.  When we turn to Him our search for completeness is satisfied.