Does God want us to travel into outer space?

Reading in Genesis 1:27, God blessed Adam and Eve and then told them to “be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion (authority over) over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  

Some argue that since man was given dominion over the birds of the air, mankind would presumably have the right to “get airborne” and or to develop aqualungs or submarines for studying and having dominion to fully carry out this command. 

They infer from a few texts in scripture that God allows and approves of humans developing technology and including space-travel as a means of studying the earth, moon, and other celestial bodies from a large-scale perspective.

However, having dominion simply means having authority over. It does not mean occupying or conquering their (God created) environment in order to have authority. And, given this is a fallen world, nature ‘naturally’ rejects man; it does NOT willing accept man ‘having dominion’ over it. 

Now, we are in a fallen world and we are rejected by nature. The idea that man should travel into space is a result of the fallen world. Its our longing to regain access to the heaven as we once had. Since the fall, having authority over the earth (including heaven) is now a struggle as it is stated in the Bible, there is nothing in this fallen world that will come easy or be the way God originally designed it. There is no reason to pursue or treasure either in the same way/sense that we once had free access to.

And, let us not forget Genesis 3:22-24 ~ Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. And now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...” Therefore the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.

So, He drove out the man and stationed cherubim on the east side of the Garden of Eden, along with a whirling sword of flame to guard the way to the tree of life. God did not make a natural world that rejects his highest creation. When man was trying to build a 'temple/tower' to the heavens what did God do?

God wants us to be praising and worshiping Him as the Creator. He is the one we are to be in awe about and nothing else. For in Him, all things were created... "For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him" ~ Colossians 1:16.

Remember, since the fall, who also has power here. Go to Matthew 4, read the scene where Satan tried to tempt Jesus saying all this can be yours? This demonstrates the fallen world we are in and that (Matthew 4:8-9) Satan now has more authority here; otherwise, why would God come to earth as a man (He so loved the world He sent His Son)… 

He came to overcome the world in its fallen state; and that we too can take part in this battle. And, that He will return and reboot the program and until then we must believe in the One He sent and do the works of God – Believe in the One He sent.  

Imagine your family… the husband/father is the ‘head of the household’ yet this does not mean to dominate (its impossible in a fallen world which is in a state of decay) but; what we can do in this fallen world is to love… even love our enemy so that we too can be overcomers. A man loves his family; he guides and supports his family which is under his authority having been given the authority … the power to do so; in order that He joins in the battle against this fallen world.

The old argument still stands… man was not given wings to fly nor gills to swim underwater even before the fall. Regardless, it’s enough to realize that in this fallen world building planes/subs costs money, its only useful to a few that can afford it and or afford it comfortably. Such technology generates pollution and is always struggling against the fallen world which makes it even more than not good. 

If you say that technology is a gift from God then you can make the argument that God wants us to have technology that can change our gender, change our DNA for better and why not reshape the entire universe that He created while we are at it. 

Of course, you can make the argument that when all people accept God as the Creator, then we will be able to do things that are even greater than what Jesus did… and until then we must wait. For now, we can heal the sick, cast out demons and feed the hungry.

 

John 14:9-12…Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works.  Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me—or at least believe on account of the works themselves.… Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 

What was Jesus doing? He was preaching the Good News and He healed the sick, raised the dead, cleansed the lepers, drove out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. ~ Matthew 10:8.

Does ‘greater things than these’ imply building technology. No. Firstly, Jesus did things without ‘technological gadgets/machines/computers’ He used his supernatural ‘mind’ power, he disappeared (moved inter-dimensionally), He did not need a plane. He did not need a boat when he walked on the water. When the sea raged, He commanded it to calm, when He healed, He did not call a doctor, and He did not use chemistry… etc. When demons were present, they were afraid and He cast them out.

Read the Bible, we have yet to embrace what God, Jesus Christ, was talking about and doing… Just like He said to Philip… I have been with you all this time and still you do not know Me. God was very specific about what man was given to do… have dominion over the earth though more difficult now as yet it is still fallen but having the power of the Holy Spirit in Him we can overcome. If we start to ignore that in order to pursue outer space, then we will be found negligent.  

Let us never forget...God’s most important commandments are: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. So, where is the command to build rocket ships and travel into outer space… to share the Gospel with who, aliens???  We are commanded to do what Jesus did and He did not go into outer space or preach to aliens...whatever they might be.

If anything, scripture asks us to renew our minds... become new creations in Jesus Christ by repenting of sin, proclaiming the Good News that is Jesus Christ. Spend time in the Word, worship and praise the Lord! For His is our everything! Be in awe of that!