The 'Other’ Star Wars

Can one galaxy declare war on another? Well, not exactly like the scenes from the Star Wars movies. But there is today a real life battle “in a galaxy far, far away.”

“What we've identified is an act of violence by a black hole, with an unfortunate nearby galaxy in the line of fire," said Dan Evans, of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge.

He further commented, “Any planets orbiting the stars of the smaller galaxy would be dramatically affected, and any life forms would likely die as the jet's radiation transformed the planets' atmosphere.” Astronomers have called the activity “an act of galactic violence” the likes of which they have never before seen.

Science has allowed man to see far into the creation and discover not only what is there, but often what is occurring there. Their findings typically include the destruction or death of some heavenly body. And while this is interesting, it should serve as no real surprise to any student of the Scriptures.

In his great doctrinal masterpiece to the church at Rome, the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8 about sin’s dire consequences on a once flawless universe. Beginning in verse 19 he states, “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.”

When mankind fell into sin, he dragged the entire creation down with him - even “until now”.And while both man and his environment were cursed by that fateful decision in the Garden of Eden, that will be ultimately reversed at some future time. Man’s redemption begins when he accepts Christ and is reclaimed and re-made according to 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Although forgiven and indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit, man’s total and final perfection will someday come when Christ comes for His church. This will usher in the end of a ‘groaning’ physical creation, thus completing God’s miraculous rescue of the world of men and the world of worlds!

In Romans 8 Paul later describes this highly anticipated union in theological terms in verses 23-24. “Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.”

The practical outcome of God’s spiritual adoption of His people is found back in the same chapter starting with verse 14. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father'. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

For the moment the battles of the creation rage on. But for the Christian, while the battles remain intense, the war has been won with the victory coming by way of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary’s cross. With the coming of the King of Kings will also come the end of all pain and sorrow. That glorious time will bring relief for embattled galaxies “far, far away,” and lasting peace and joy for every redeemed resident of planet Earth.

Bill Breckenridge