A Place in Heaven - Gen. 1:16
God's wondrous love and mercy devised a plan to prepare a home for man in heaven, above terrestrial sin and woe.
Bernard Fell preaches on the divine order of creation, highlighting the moon as Earth's satellite with borrowed light, ruling the night as queen, and the contrast of the moon's barrenness to Earth's fruitful seasons due to man's sin. He draws parallels between the moon landing by space-men and Jesus' peaceful mission to Earth, bearing the cost of sin on the cross. Fell emphasizes God's love and mercy in providing a heavenly home beyond the physical realm, urging listeners to prioritize the eternal gift of salvation over earthly pursuits.
Text
God made two great lights . . .
the lesser light to rule the night.
Genesis 1:16
God set the moon in orbit,
Earth's beaming satellite,
Revolving on her monthly course
With silv'ry, borrowed light.
With twinkling stars, her royal crown,
She rules the night as queen;
Looks downward on a troubled world,
Unruffled and serene.
To visit her dominions,
Intrepid space-men rise
To walk the unknown lunar way;
A daring enterprise!
Success achieved--this message left,
Inscribed upon a plaque,
"We come in peace for all mankind."
Then journeyed safely back!
The earth, divinely ordered,
Is man's appointed sphere:
No fruitful seasons, harvests ripe,
Upon the moon appear.
Though richly blest, his sin deprived
All right on earth to stay:
To other worlds he may aspire,
Death's call he must obey.
The Lord of all creation
Set foot upon the earth!
He came in peace for all mankind,
A holy, lowly birth.
The greatest mission ever known;
The cost? His precious blood!
Man's sins upon the cross He bore,
Ere He returned to God.
God's wondrous love and mercy
Devised this marvellous plan:
Above terrestrial sin and woe,
Prepared a home for man.
Past sun, and moon, the Milky Way,
Beyond the range of space,
Swifter than light His own shall take
To heav'n, His dwelling-place.
O ye who thirst for knowledge.
Where man can never dwell,
Yet have no place in heav'n above,
With joys no tongue can tell:
O ye who seek this costly prize,
A rocky, airless moon,
Neglect no longer God's free gift,
And heav'n's far greater boon!
Sermon Outline
- God's Creation of the Moon
- Man's Relationship with the Moon
- God's Plan for Man
- The Choice Before Us
- Neglecting God's gift and the consequences
- Receiving God's free gift and the benefits
Key Quotes
“He came in peace for all mankind, A holy, lowly birth. The greatest mission ever known; The cost? His precious blood!” — Bernard Fell
“Above terrestrial sin and woe, Prepared a home for man.” — Bernard Fell
“O ye who thirst for knowledge. Where man can never dwell, Yet have no place in heav''n above, With joys no tongue can tell:” — Bernard Fell
Application Points
- We must not neglect God's free gift and the benefits of heaven, but rather receive it with gratitude and humility.
- The cost of salvation is worth it, as Jesus Christ bore our sins on the cross and returned to God.
- We have a choice before us: to follow God''s plan and have a place in heaven, or to reject it and face the consequences.