It was racing swiftly many millions of miles from earth. On it traveled through the vast empty space between the planets. Back on earth in the lab in the hills above Los Angeles, everyone watched and waited. Everything seemed to be going according to plan. After all, more than 250 people had worked on this spaceship. It had cost many millions of dollars. It was about 7 feet tall and weighed 1,387 pounds. They had calculated and planned every detail.
Unfortunately, there was one small mistake. Just one calculation was wrong. This little mistake sent the spaceship too close to the planet Mars. Flying about 23 miles away from Mars, it was suddenly pulled into the Martian atmosphere. It crashed and burned!
Many people think their little journey of life seems right on track. Everything looks good. What could possibly go wrong? Yet every boy and girl and grown-up has a problem. Each of us has sinned, and it is not a little problem! We have all gone off course and are not going to end up where we want to go. Will you find this out before it is too late? The spaceship was only 60 miles off-course, but it proved fatal.
During the 9-month journey starting in December 1998, the spaceship with its special cameras had traveled 461 million miles. There was no shortage of time to fix the problem. It was a careless mistake, but nobody realized something was wrong. But you and I should know something is wrong in our lives, because the Bible plainly tells us that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). It even tells us that “there is a way which [seems] right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:1212There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)). Are you on the way that only seems right? Have you been mistaken? Or are you truly on the right way?
The scientists made a simple mistake because they used the metric system of measurements to navigate the spaceship. The contractor who built it had used the English system of measurements.
It is very possible that you and I are also using the wrong measurements. We compare ourselves with other people and say, “I’m really not as bad as he or she is.” But we need to use God’s measurements. His standard is the only true and accurate one. He says we have “all gone out of the way, [we] are together become unprofitable; there is none that [does] good, no, not one” (Romans 3:1212They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:12)). If we measure ourselves by God’s standard, we see that our calculations are wrong! We are not on the right course, and we need a course correction!
The NASA laboratory said the search for radio signals from the spaceship might as well be called off. They said, “There is no hope of finding anything.” What an unnecessary loss. And yet you are far more valuable than this spaceship. It was worth 125 million dollars, but you are priceless—you do not have a price tag! God says, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:3636For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36)). Nothing could ever buy you back if you die in your sins. What an unnecessary loss!
Listen to the warning; it’s not too late! God tells us to repent and believe the gospel that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). To repent means to change your mind, to think differently. Change your mind about sin; it is serious! Change your mind about your course in life. If you want to be in heaven, you must be saved from your sins!
The loss of the spaceship was expensive. They can replace it and try again. You cannot be replaced, and there is no second chance. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many” (Hebrews 9:27-2827And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:27‑28)).
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