The Way I See It - May 13, 2002 - Knees and Tongues
By Dennis Uecker
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." (1)
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." (2)
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. (3) 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) The
way I see it, 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)
Blessings,
Dennis Uecker
P.S. News item: As of yesterday, May 20, 2002, the famed Harvard
paleontologist and premier evolutionary theorist and apologist Dr. Stephen J.
Gould, joined Dr. Sagan in proclaiming Jesus as Lord. The closest thing to a
deathbed quote I have is taken from a New York Times article of May 20, 2002, by
Carol Kaesuk Yoon, gleaned from one of Gould's writings. "When my skein runs out
I hope to face the end calmly and in my own way," he wrote. However, "death is
the ultimate enemy — and I find nothing reproachable in those who rage mightily
against the dying of the light." He was, no doubt, somewhat surprised to
discover that he wasn't facing the end, but rather the beginning, and that until
yesterday, he had not even seen a glimmer, let alone the true Light. DJU
(1)
http://people.clarityconnect.com/webpages/shand/CarlSagan.htm
(2)
http://www.cnn.com/US/9612/20/sagan/
(3)
http://www1.tpgi.com.au/users/tps-seti/sagan.html (Under "A Speaker
For Earth")
2002 © Dennis J. Uecker Permission is hereby granted to freely
distribute via electronic media.
"The Way I See It" is an opinion column dealing with the practical application
of Biblical principles. It is distributed semimonthly (sort of) via electronic
media to subscribers who have nothing better to do than read the ramblings of an
amateur theologian. The author officially represents no church or denomination,
and, with the exception of the Scripture verses quoted, is solely responsible
for the content, especially the errors. However, being incapable of original
thought, he has probably stolen the good insights from other sources. If you
desire to be added or deleted from the distribution list, please respond to the
sender accordingly.
