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Christian Network The Sermon of The Revd Charles S. Mims

Our Strength is In God

In Memory of the Astronauts of the

Space Shuttle Columbia

Psalm 46:1-5

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. (KJV)

Precious memories, how they linger…as the chords from that refrain linger in our minds from just moments ago, we must begin to reflect how very important our memories are to us. For seven families this morning, all they have left are the memories of their loved ones For seven families this morning, what was expected to be a day of celebration abruptly became a national day of mourning. For seven families, life has changed in a dramatic fashion.

Many of us this morning can recall that day in January 1986 when the space shuttle Challenger exploded as it launched from Cape Canaveral. Many of you this morning recall the fire on the Apollo space craft in 1967 that cost the lives of the astronauts. Today we are reliving these events because of the tragedy that befell our nation on February 1, 20003.

Seven souls went to their eternal reward yesterday. Seven souls crossed over into eternity, lost in a matter of seconds. Their sacrifice for research will always be remembered.

Cmdr. Rick Husband holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Texas Technical University, and a master's degree in mechanical engineering from California State University in Fresno. He is a member in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Tau Beta Pi, the Air Force Association, and the Texas Tech Ex-Students Association. Husband is a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force and is married with two children.

Pilot William McCool holds a bachelor's degree in applied science from the U.S. Naval Academy, a master's degree in computer science from the University of Maryland, and a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. He was an eagle scout, and is a member of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association. McCool is a commander in the Navy and is married.

Born in Karnal, India, mission specialist Kalpana Chawla holds a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College in India, a master's degree in aerospace engineering from University of Texas, and a doctorate of psychology in aerospace engineering from University of Colorado. She holds a certificated flight instructor license with airplane and glider ratings, commercial pilot licenses for both single and multi-engine land and seaplanes. Some of Chawla's hobbies include hiking, backpacking and reading.

Mission Specialist David Brown holds a bachelor's degree in biology from the College of William and Mary, and a doctorate in medicine from Eastern Virginia Medical School. He is a former president of the International Association of Military Flight Surgeon Pilots. He is also an associate fellow in the Aerospace Medical Association and the Society of U.S. Naval Flight Surgeons. Brown is a captain in the U.S. Navy and enjoys flying and bicycle touring.

Mission Specialist Michael Anderson holds a bachelor's degree in physics and astronomy from the University of Washington, and a master's degree in physics from Creighton University. He has been awarded the defense superior service medal, the U.S. Air Force meritorious service medal, and the U.S. Air Force achievement medal with one oak leaf cluster. Anderson is a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force and is married.

Mission Specialist Laurel Clark holds a bachelor's degree in zoology and a doctorate in medicine from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has received three Navy commendation medals, a national defense medal, and an overseas service ribbon. Clark is a member of the Aerospace Medical Association, the Society of U.S. Naval Flight Surgeons, and is a commander in the Navy. She is married with one child.

Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon holds a bachelor's degree in electronics and computer engineering from the University of Tel Aviv, Israel. He has trained on and flown in numerous aircraft including the F-16, A-4, F-4 and the Mirage III-C. Ramon is a colonel in the Israel Air Force and enjoys skiing and squash with his wife and four children.

These seven souls gave their life for a cause in which they believed. They were striving to better themselves and their fellow man. We pause today to say thank you, and to encourage their families with our prayers.

Too often we rely on the strength of the wrong things. We trust our own understanding, and our own knowledge. When tragedies like this explosion of the shuttle Columbia take place, we begin to cast about for something or someone to blame.

To be sure, there is a cause for yesterday’s tragedy, and in time that cause will become apparent. It is at times like these we can take comfort in the words of Psalm 46. This Psalm tells us that when times are troubled, the Lord is our strength.

I cannot even begin to imagine the pain that the families of these seven courageous astronauts are enduring this day. I cannot even begin to imagine the depths of despair that they must feel. Yet I know, from my own life and through the testimony of others, that when things get bad, God is our strength.

Yesterday’s tragedy calls us to remember that our time on earth is limited. Life and death are realities which we cannot turn away from.

These seven souls were close to home. A mere quarter hour from an expected landing, the anticipated reunion turned into something far more painful.

Today we say goodbye to seven national heroes. We offer our prayers and deepest condolences to the families of each of those seven men and women. Their sacrifice must not be forgotten, their courage unrewarded.

We too, find ourselves on the path of life, close to our destination, yet not quite making it. We find ourselves walking the path that God has chosen for us, only to get taken to a different direction.

We must realize today that our life is limited. We will not always have another day. There will not always be another chance.

Thankfully, life is generous for many of us. We have the time to do the things we enjoy. We have the time to spend with our families and our friends. We have the opportunity for a career, the opportunity to see our children grow up. We have the opportunity to make changes in our life as we go along.

More often than not, we sadly do not make wise choices. We choose to follow a path that is dangerous for us. If not on this earthly journey, then dangerous for eternity following. Perhaps it is because we think that there will always be one more tomorrow.

However long we live, death inevitably comes to all of us. In spite of all the powers of humankind and the steady advance of medical technology, we have never succeeded in defeating death. We all will die.

But death is just a transition. Although the body ceases to function, the spirit lives on. Death, according to the Bible, is a change of status. That which perishes is excahnged for that which is imperishable. Death ushers us into the presence of the living God. Death brings us into eternity.

All of us must face death sometime. Hebrews 9:27 says, ". . . man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment." In light of this, we should all take great care to live in such a way that when it comes our time to die, we are ready to face God.

You see, death is not death if you know the Lord.

Death is not death, if it kills no part of us, except that which hindered us from perfect life.

Death is not death, if it raises us in a moment from darkness into light, from weakness into strength, from sinfulness into holiness.

Death is not death, if it perfects our faith by sight, and let’s us behold Him in whom we have believed.

Death is not death, if it rids us of doubt and fear, of sickness and disease, of sorrow and sadness.

Death is not death, if it gives us to those whom we have loved and lost, for whom we have lived, for whom we long to live again.

Death is not death; for Christ has conquered death, for Himself, and for those who trust in Him.

2 Corinthians 4:16-15:8

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

What do those words mean for you, for us? They are words of encouragement. Can you own them for yourself?

They teach us that for those of us who know Christ as our life, to die is to gain.

WE GAIN A BETTER BODY - It will be a glorified, immortal, resurrection body. In this life we experience aging, pain, sickness, and ultimately death. Those are the things which accompany this house of dust. But as we pass through death into glory, we gain one that does not grow old, know disease, suffer pain, and can never die. Here on this earth we are trapped in a body that age takes a toll on. A body that doesn’t have the energy and vigor it once did. We become limited by our vision, and tire easily. But in death, I have no doubt, we have the opportunity to run around those streets of gold with a spring in our step, gazing upon the glory of the Lord.

WE GAIN A BETTER HOME - Whatever we may have in this life cannot compare with the home which Jesus is preparing for us. He said He was going to prepare a place for us so that we could be with Him. We can’t even imagine the glorious home which awaits us.

WE GAIN A BETTER INHERITANCE - Our final reward is not here, in this life, but is in heaven. "Well done thou good and faithful servant . . . . . enter into the joy of thy Lord."

WE GAIN A BETTER FELLOWSHIP - In this world we live in a dissolving family circle. Husband is gone, or wife is gone, or Father, or Mother is gone, or Grandparents, or friend. But in heaven we will enjoy a reunion with those who wait to greet us there. But best of all, we shall enjoy fellowship with Jesus Christ; we shall see Him face to face. IF FOR YOU TO LIVE IS CHRIST, THEN TO DIE IS GAIN

But if for you to live is money, to die is a loss. But if for you to live is pleasure, to die is a loss. But if for you to live is self, to die is a loss. But if for you to live is ambition, to die is a loss. But if for you to live is sin, to die is a loss. But if for you to live is this world, to die is a loss.

But if for you to live is CHRIST, then to die is gain, great gain!

The reality of death is that we all die. And death puts us face to face with God. This we cannot change. But we can do something about eternity. If we do not commit our life to Christ to serve Him, then to die is an eternal loss. The realities of heaven and hell confront us as we consider death. But the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that we can be forgiven for our sins and enjoy God’s presence forever. We do not have to fear death, for death is not death if it transports us to eternal life.

Life changed once again for America on February 1, 2003. We were presented once again with an example of how fleeting life is. The happiness in death that I’ve been talking about comes from a relationship with our Lord Jesus.

We are not strong as a nation because we can send men into space and return them again. We are not strong as a nation because we have a mighty military. We are strong when our faith is in the Lord. It is our faith that makes us strong, and our faith which will keep us strong in times of trouble.

In our nation, indeed in our churches as well, we have walked away from our faith. We have trusted in the strength of manmade things. Today I call you to remember that our strength is in God. He who created this world keeps and sustains us.

Will we turn back to God? Will we once again place our faith in him? We saw yesterday that we don’t know what awaits us. We knew it, we were only reminded of mortality yesterday What will we do with that reminder?

May God bless America, and may he bless these families in a special way. May we turn our hearts to him as we close with prayer.