Where would you like to go? Much traveling has been shut down, but there are still possibilities. What about a trip to Tokyo? Or Honolulu? Or Israel?
No interest?
Well, I have one to suggest that may pique your interest: how about a trip to a little island in Andromeda?
Yes, you heard right: Andromeda.
Let’s look at a small section of the galaxy as seen through Hubble’s lense. And starting counting stars… 1,2,3,4,5… for as long as you live! You’ll hardly be started!
Altogether the galaxy is said to contain roughly a trillion stars (Wikipedia says it is “difficult to estimate with any accuracy”) It is approximately 2.5 million light years from the Earth. Now 2.5 million light years in miles is 2.5 million times 6 trillion. That will take awhile to calculate! The galaxy was first photographed in 1899 by Isaac Roberts.
It was an achievement at the time, because with the naked eye the galaxy looks like a single dot.
In this short video a scientist explains a little about Andromeda.
Now back to our travel plans.
We cannot but marvel at the beauty and magnitude in our Creator’s handiwork!
Psalm 19:1 1The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
And try to even begin to imagine how many angels live in such an area.
What about traveling there? It is the promise of God—and more. Because this is within the realm of what we can “ask” and “think of”—and the promise is beyond that!
Consider, too, that from our earth the whole galaxy looks like a tiny dot. But TRAVEL there?
This is where Brother Nichols picked up his cue about the hosts of angels who LIVE in these wonderful worlds on high. The text is not far from the center of the Hebrew Hymnal.
Psalm 103:17–18 17But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, 18To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.
These multitudes of worlds witness to God’s mercy that He has been extending from everlasting past to everlasting future! To whom is it extended?
18To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.
Think about it: we little mortals are called to be part of this “covenant,” to be informed of its terms so that we can “keep it” and “remember His commandments to do them”—and one day join the glorious family of immortals, to be part of all that glory to come?
Now going from here forward, what do we have in Scripture that would point to this possibility? Let’s have the simplest first: Isaiah 40:31.
Isaiah 40:31 31But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
What is the prophet saying about mounting up?
Isaiah 40:31 31But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles…
Think about the angel Gabriel—we have no idea of how many times he came by our planet. But we are sure of three times because his name is mentioned. His first recorded visit was to Daniel. Daniel was busy with what he loved most: communing with God. It is Daniel’s own account of the visit:
Daniel 9:20–21 20Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, 21yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering.
Gabriel brought a special gift for Daniel, and also a special compliment. Let us read on in Daniel chapter 9
Daniel 9:22–23 22And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. 23At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:
Can we imagine how Daniel felt, a humble little mortal in the presence of this great heavenly visitor? And to hear those immortal words:
“Daniel,… you are greatly beloved…”
This isn’t all we know about Gabriel’s travels. When it was time to announce the approaching birth of Jesus’ forerunner, who should come by but… the man Gabriel! After promising Zacharias that he and Elisabeth would have a child in their old age,
Luke 1:18–19 18… Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” 19And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.
Six months later, another little errand for Gabriel:
Luke 1:26 26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
Did Mary recognize the name Gabriel from the record of Daniel’s experience? She must have been awed by the message brought.
Was he maybe the angel that brought the heavenly news to the shepherds at Jesus’ birth and lead the angels who sang?
Was he Jesus’ special angel of note delivering the messages to John the Revelator? Maybe, and maybe not, for there are plenty of angels available for service!
And now, what is the travel message for us in all of this?
Start packing—yes, start packing now for this interstellar space trip. Pack in bundles of humility, kindness, love, patience, gratitude, sincerity, and every virtue you can think of. You can’t get too much! You will want it all when you stand to be cleared for travel beyond what eye has seen, or ear has heard, or human heart has imagined.
Is this just idle dreaming? Not at ALL! Remember, the angels have come here. And if THEY can come HERE, we can go THERE.
These trips will be available, once our planet is – shall I say “immortalized”? Yes, there will be extended trips to visit the family of God in far, far away places in His vast universes.
The opportunity to travel to the galaxy of your choice will be opening in the foreseeable millennia to the winners in the race for LIFE!
So start packing NOW!