Total Compliance With Guidance System
AS THEIR space craft sped toward the moon, the crew continually demonstrated a willing cooperation with and dependence upon their guidance complex. For example:
HOUSTON: We have a request for you . . . as a precautionary measure we'd like you to momentarily cycle the four switches to the closed position and then release . . .
APOLLO: Good idea. Will do.1
The guidance complex consisted basic ally of two vital components: (1) Mission Control at Houston, and (2) the amazing on-board computerized inertial reference platform which continually informed the crew of their speed, direction, and location in space.2 These components can typify the two most important subjective guidance sources available to the Christian to assist in every situation: (1) the live guidance of the Holy Spirit—our "Mission Control," and (2) the properly educated conscience —our own "on-board computerized inertial reference platform."
Concerning the contemporaneous directive potential of the Holy Spirit, Isaiah and John teach respectively: "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it" (Isa. 30:21). "The Spirit of truth . . . will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13).
The following texts show the guidance capacity of the conscience: "And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one" (John 8:8, 9). "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God" (1 John 3:21). "I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of. offence toward God, and toward men" (Acts 24:16).
Our challenge is to comply with these spiritual directives as faithfully as the crew of Apollo 11 complied with their human and mechanical directives.
Saved by the Human Touch
Just before lunar touchdown, the Eagle was literally headed for the rocks,. and would have crashed on them had not Arm strong personally intervened. Those tense moments are described as follows: Dead ahead, only several hundred feet below his rapidly sinking craft, he reported, was a football field-sized crater, with a large number of big boulders and rocks." 3
Armstrong quickly took over control of Eagle and directed the fragile silver-black-and-gold craft to a better site.4
At no other point during the flight is the importance of direct human involvement better illustrated than during this crisis. Applied to the fulfillment of the gospel commission, the manner in which the emergency was handled shows that in order for the gospel to "land" successfully on human hearts, it must be gently guided there by the human touch. By the exclusive use of remote control, the good news can be sent just so far and no farther simply because it needs person-to-person involvement to carry it all the way—"Go ye" (Matt. 28:19).
Detail Adherence to Set Course
The cause for "the nearly disastrous alteration in the lunar touchdown course illustrates why God is wisely concerned with details. Scientists attribute this deviation not to one major fault, but to the "accumulation of very small errors." 5
By ignoring divine advice, we too may find ourselves eventually off course not be cause of major infractions, but because of the accumulation of many uncorrected "little fox" departures from His will. James follows such a negative course of action to its logical conclusion by warning that "whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10).
Frequent Communication
Conversations between headquarters and the astronauts were consistently natural and frequent. However, communications sharply increased in frequency and intensity during the lunar landing. The Eagle transmitted a torrent of moment-by-moment progress reports for Houston's approval. Here are the final exchanges:
EAGLE: Lights on; down 2-1/2 feet . . . drifting to the right a little.
HOUSTON: Thirty seconds.
EAGLE: Contact light . . .
HOUSTON: We copy. You're down, Eagle.
EAGLE: Houston, Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed.
HOUSTON: . . . We're breathing again. Thanks a lot.6
As God's mission enters its final stage, these crucial landing exchanges become significant reminders to the Christian of the importance of frequent prayer. Ellen White rates the value of personal communication with God in two classic statements: Prayer is heaven's ordained means of success in the conflict with sin and the development of Christian character.—Acts of the Apostles, p. 564.
Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence?—Steps to Christ, pp. 94, 95.
Teamwork of Thousands
That was a team landing . . . with Neil at the controls and Aldrin calling out the readings of velocities and altitudes in the cockpit, with the guidance officer calling out "go's" . . . and with the capsule communicator calling all this up to the crew.7
The next quotation shows what made this thrilling landing possible:
The Apollo management process is to integrate hundreds of thousands of people at, literally, thou sands of institutions into an organized relationship with one another, and to provide them with means to insure progress at a planned rate and cost to attain the specific objective. . . . Some 300,000 people were involved at the peak.8
From the technician tightening screws to the scientist programming computers, there existed a commendable dedication and harmony made possible by the humility required for good teamwork. Each activity, large or small, received equal care.
The success of this splendid teamwork supports the truth of the following assurance, "If Christians were to act in concert, moving forward as one, under the direction of one Power, for the accomplishment of one purpose, they would move the world."—Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 221.
Dressed for Life
Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin dared not venture onto the moon without the protection of proper space attire. Their 100,000" coverings can be likened to an other kind of life-sustaining garment.
Free to us, the robe of Christ's righteousness has been purchased at infinite cost and is lovingly placed around each individual by God Himself as pictured by Isaiah, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, . . . for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness" (Isa. 61: 10). This essential, protective clothing which we are to purchase by faith from Jesus (Revelation 3:18) is described as our new way of life, "The fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints" (Rev. 19:8, R.S.V.).
The astronauts were not reluctant, but thankful to wear their peculiar-looking suits because they were dressed for life in another world. Likewise, the Christian should be eager to "wear" his distinguishing way of life regardless of world opinion because he too is dressed for life in an other world.
Musical Celebration of Moon Landing "Duke Ellington has been commissioned to compose and perform an original score to mark man's landing on the moon ... it includes vocal music entitled, 'Moon Maid,' to be sung by Mr. Ellington." 10
As a vocal performance celebrated man's landing on the Sea of Tranquility," so there will be a beautiful vocal outburst when the redeemed step onto the sea of glass. This singing will not be performed by proxy, because each redeemed sinner will participate personally. Although we might have sung the triumphant lines of the "Song of Moses and the Lamb" long before the performance of the "Moon Maid," God is graciously waiting for us to learn the words through experience.
The amazing mission of Apollo 11 magnificently succeeded because it consistently applied these success principles described to the church long ago:
1. Rigorous final preparation.
2. Semi-quarantine living.
3. Thorough knowledge of flight plan.
4. Complete trust and willing total commitment.
5. Use of proper propellant.
6. Distributed power.
7. Total compliance with guidance system.
8. The human touch.
9. Detail adherence to set course.
10. Frequent communication.
11. Teamwork.
12. Dressed for life.
Perhaps the most important over-all spiritual effect of the voyage can be the motivation and assurance generated in us as we watch God's basic mission-success principles beautifully applied and thoroughly vindicated. The demonstration assures us that if we, through Heaven's energizing power, personally display these principles, our mission will move rapidly toward the moment of the "glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13), and the "one giant leap" to the sea of glass. May we each renew our decision to reflect these principles.
