In my younger years, I wanted to be an astronaut. I breathed space travel. I built rockets, studied moon maps, read books on astronauts(the modern day equivalent of Google or Facebook stalking), and moon walked(it was the 80’s). I lived during the time of the Challenger space shuttle tragedy. I was undaunted in my passion.
My parents gave me a telescope, and I can remember many late nights and early mornings looking out into the vast creation of God. I wanted to be an astronaut, and I modeled my life and thinking in like fashion.
Thankfully, my parents didn’t just buy me that Tasco Telescope® and leave me to discover the world on my own. They valued the word of God and made sure I heard it. I did.
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV
Hearing this word prompted me to know the creator of the vast cosmos that I wanted to explore. It led me to breathe in the spiritual oxygen of a deep truth.
Be an imitator of God.
God called me to my present ministry before I knew what an astronaut was(more on that later). He knew me before my parents did. He created me and wants me to follow him. He doesn’t force me to; he desires it.
God desires all to know him. It’s not just preachers, and singers, and Sunday school teachers.
He wants all to know him, and to know him is to imitate him.
He wants all of us to walk as he would, as he did, and as he does. He wants us to love our neighbors enough to tell them the good news. Being a member of a church, or claiming to be a Christian is never enough. Living our lives as an offering to God is the plan.
Want to know the will of God for your life?
Imitate him.
To this day, I still see value in NASA and its programs. I haven’t quite given up on the whole space travel dream. I am sure there is room for a Pastor in space. Until then, I will strive to imitate God.
Pastor Daniel W. Henson