On this day in 1966, the first pictures of Earth taken from moon orbit were sent back to the United States.

For centuries people have gazed on the moon and thought about what it must be like on that cold, pockmarked sphere. Eventually we found out through NASA’s Apollo program, with moon orbits and photos sent back to earth. And on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped out of the capsule and onto its surface.

Now imagine that you are orbiting the moon, or even standing on it, and looking back to Earth. What do you see? What are you thinking? Most astronauts said that from the moon Earth looked beautiful—but very small.

Standing on Earth and looking up we can feel pretty big and important. In reality, planet Earth is tiny compared to other planets in our solar system, and it’s a mere speck in the universe.

Several years ago a man named J.B. Phillips wrote a short story titled, “The Visited Planet.” In it several angels in heaven discuss the fact that God chose Earth, our tiny and insignificant planet, for his home. They are amazed that Jesus came to Earth, born as a human baby, to be one of us. Like our astronauts, only much further out, they were looking at the world. “Why would the Father choose that place and those creatures?” they wonder.

Good question. But aren’t you glad he did? Because we live on the “visited planet,” because Jesus became one of us and lived and died for us, we can have eternal life. Then one day we will rise higher than any space explorers have ever gone and meet him face to face in Heaven.

Wow!

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you have set in place—
what are mortals that you should think of us,
mere humans that you should care for us? (Psalm 8:3, 4).

To Do

On a clear night, go outside and look up at the moon and stars. Take a good look at the moon and imagine what it would be like to stand up there and to look back at Earth. Next, count the stars. Then spend a couple of minutes thanking God for sending Jesus to earth and for loving you.

Also on this day . . .

1587—Virginia Dare became the first child to be born on American soil of English parents.

1774—Meriwether Lewis, U.S. explorer, was born. He was the leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005).