A Planet Like Ours: Is There Life There?

Potentially habitable planet found
By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer

For the first time astronomers have discovered a planet outside our solar system that is potentially habitable, with Earth-like temperatures, a find researchers described Tuesday as a big step in the search for "life in the universe."

The planet is just the right size, might have water in liquid form, and in galactic terms is relatively nearby at 120 trillion miles away. But the star it closely orbits, known as a "red dwarf," is much smaller, dimmer and cooler than our sun.

There's still a lot that is unknown about the new planet, which could be deemed inhospitable to life once more is known about it. And it's worth noting that scientists' requirements for habitability count Mars in that category: a size relatively similar to Earth's with temperatures that would permit liquid water. However, this is the first outside our solar system that meets those standards.

"It's a significant step on the way to finding possible life in the universe," said University of Geneva astronomer Michel Mayor, one of 11 European scientists on the team that found the planet. "It's a nice discovery. We still have a lot of questions."

Phillipians 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made
in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became
obedient to death—even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that
is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth
and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.

Is there other life in the universe? It would seem logical. Even by the odds, the cosmos is so vast that it is likely there would be another planet capable of sustaining life in some form, in some stage of evolution.

And what of other possible dimensions? What lurks there: and could man ever find out?

So far, our great expense at finding this puzzle out has left us empty-handed. Can the Bible tell us anything?

The above passage basically says that whatever is out there, Jesus, a human being like us, owns it all. Indeed, other passages tell us He made it all. There are hints in scripture at other kinds of life, and most notably the angels. See Revelation if you want some weird creatures.

The point is, also, that we who believe are destined to also rule with Christ in the cosmos. We are going where no man has gone before on a future star trek with the Lord. Why? For one thing, we alone are made in God's "image." Jesus revealed what that image actually looks like.

God became a man, and that being was Jesus. It is His plan whether anybody likes it or not. But it is also good news (gospel). In fact, it is the best news we will ever hear.

If there is life in the universe, outside of this lonely earth, it will wind up bowing to Jesus. Sound like science fiction? Religious fantasy? Best go back and consider it. He is not far from any one of us. Why not get acquainted? It isn't every day you get to meet a king, much less the King of the Cosmos. And He wants an audience with you.