Mars
The Red Planet
What do we know about it, and
was it really made to sustain human life?
( by Murry Rives ) |
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Recently Mars reached its closest point to
earth; a phenomenon that will not occur again until
2016. |
What do we know
about it?
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It has a diameter of
approximately 4,213 miles, and is about half the size of the
Earth. As a result of the absence of liquid water, it has about
the same total land area as the Earth, even though it is much
smaller. Mars is on average about 142 million miles from the
Sun. Because of its position in relation to the Sun, the
duration of one day on Mars lasts approximately 42 minutes
longer than a typical Earth day. Mars is a terrestrial planet
and is the outermost of the "rocky" planets, with an extremely
thin atmosphere. The atmosphere consists of 95% carbon dioxide,
3% nitrogen and about 1.6% argon.
The planet has two small moons (orbiting satellites), "Phobos"
and "Deimos." These are thought to be asteroids that have been
sucked in by the gravitational pull of Mars, which is around 38 percent of Earth's gravity.
Mount Olympus appears to be a volcano on the surface of Mars.
Its peak rises about 88,000 feet above the surface of the
Martian planet, making it approximately three times the height
of Mount Everest, here on Earth. Mons Olympus is also the
tallest known mountain in the entire solar system.
Mars was originally thought to contain a solid iron core,
similar to the theorized liquid iron core of our home planet.
However, recent studies have indicated that the structure of its
core may also be somewhat liquid.
Was it really made
to sustain human life?
In an attempt to find intelligent life in the outer reaches
of the universe, scientists have chosen the planet Mars as one
of the primary destinations for exploration, given its close
proximity to Earth, and its terrestrial structure.
Technologically advanced Martian land rovers, have traversed the
face of this desolate planet, exploring its "rocky" terrain, in
an effort to find any trace of life.
Despite the endless search for intelligent life on Mars, none
has been found there, or any place in the Universe. The Bible
refers to only the Earth as having been created to support life:
| "For thus saith the
LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed
the earth and made it; he hath established it, he
created it not in vain, he formed it to be
inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else."
....Isaiah 45:18 |
We are told that our Creator formed the Earth as the home for
His living creatures, and most importantly, human life. We are
also told that He created man in His own image, and that He
breathed into man the breath of life, and formed him from the
dust of the Earth.
Is Earth just an
unexceptional planet?
|
"Thus
saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the
earth
is my footstool: ....Isaiah 66 |
The Earth holds a very special place in the eyes of our
Creator, Jesus Christ. It is unlike any other celestial body in
the heavens.
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"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the
world to condemn the world; but that the world through
him might be saved." ....John 3:16-17 |
Today there are those who would attempt to persuade us that
there is nothing special about humans or the earth. They have
chosen to believe the lie that was introduced by Satan in The
Garden of Eden - That man can be as God. Denying the Creator,
they reject the fact that one day every knee will bow to Him.
| "But the heavens and
the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in
store, reserved unto fire against the day of
judgment...The Lord is not slack concerning his
promise...not willing that any should perish, but that
all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord
will come as a thief in the night; in the which the
heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the
elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also
and the works that are therein shall be burned
up...Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for
new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness." ....2 Peter 3 |
Murry Rives
Additional Reading Material:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/12/071218-mars-closest.html
http://www.earthsky.org/radioshows/51901/mars-closest-to-earth-december-18-2007
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/science/hst_img_20071218.html
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