Intelligent Life: Only Here on Earth?

A recent article published on the Internet began with the following statement:

Astronomers have found a nearby solar system with seven Earth-sized planets, three of which circle their parent star at the right distance for liquid surface water, raising the prospect of life, research published recently showed.

It is natural to ask the question if Earth-type places exist in other parts of the universe. Behind this question is the belief that in a universe encompassing trillions of stars and billions of galaxies, the probability of all the factors necessary for life—including intelligent life—being present outside our solar system is high.  With this reasoning, many—scientists included—believe that man is not very unique or special.

The fundamental problem with this perspective is that it diminishes the value of mankind. Then ask, if it is true that you and I have innate value, how much value might that be?

To answer that question, first ask if you think that God would pay the greatest and highest price imaginable—the lifeblood of Jesus His son—for something relatively worthless? Doing so would, of course, make no sense. Yet, in His infinite wisdom and love, God chose to pay the highest possible price for you and me. There can be no greater proof that not only does God love us, He also places great value on us! Frankly, He sees something in us that is difficult for us to comprehend.

The fact of the matter is that in the context of God’s divine purpose and in terms of our potential in eternity, our value to God justifies a price that is beyond our full comprehension. Notice Paul’s powerful statement:

But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived—God has prepared these things for those who love him.

(1 Corinthians 2:9).

Paul continues to explain that with the help of the Holy Spirit we can have a glimpse of our glorious future. Together with that glimpse we have an obligation to respond to live in God’s will, as I state in my Life Essentials Study Bible, Principle #6, page 1569 in 1 Corinthians:

When we study the Word of God, we are to rely on the Holy Spirit to open our minds to understand God’s amazing plan of redemption as well as His will for our lives as followers of Jesus Christ.

Later, Paul is very specific:

You are not your own, for you were bought at a price.  So glorify God with your body.

(1 Corinthians 6:19b, 20).

The God we worship has intimate, personal knowledge of every corner of the Universe. The Bible states that He has a name for each and every star. And if intelligent life exists in the universe outside of the Earth and God’s heavenly realm, He hasn’t revealed it to us. The details about the nature of the universe are a small portion of many exciting things we will discover in the glory of His heavenly Kingdom.