I admit I am a fan of Star Trek. Every now and then I notice some comment made by a character that stirs a recognition of either a biblical truth or a secular lie. Here’s a sampling:
“Mortality gives meaning to human life, Captain. Peace, love, friendship—these are precious, because we know they cannot endure” (Commander Data in ST:Picard S1.E10).
This quote is antithetical to Christian belief. We believe that it is the immortality found through faith in Jesus Christ that gives meaning to life. Love is eternal because God is love and God is eternal. As Paul wrote to the Corinthian church (quoting from Isaiah 22:13), “If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’” If this life is all there is, then we can either choose the path of supreme enjoyment or the path of trying to make some lasting difference in the world. But in either case, our influence will soon fade. Which brings me to the next quote from the funeral for Dr. Crusher’s grandmother:
“Now we commit her body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in sure and certain hope that her memory will be kept alive within us all” (ST:TNG S7.E14).
Although some reviewers have characterized this scene as a Christian funeral, that’s certainly not the language from the Book of Common Prayer— “in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life.” Do we really want to put our hope in the memories of those who knew us? How many people who died 100 years ago are truly remembered aside from a name on a stone somewhere? But if our hope is in the coming resurrection, we know that God Himself will remember those who belong to Him, all whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev. 21:27).
Once in a while, Star Trek does stir more encouraging thoughts. In Deep Space 9 (S7.E2), Commander Sisko has a conversation with the “prophets,” who are almost god-like beings. He asks,
“You arranged my birth? I exist because of you? … Why me?”
“Because it could be no one else.”
This scene actually reminded me of parts of Ephesians.
“[God] chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him” (1:4).
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (2:10).
Our lives have purpose because God chose to give us each specific work to do. Your role in this world can be filled by no one else. Sometimes we may be inclined to think that we are expendable, that our work doesn’t matter, but God says it does. That’s not to put undue pressure on us to live up to high expectations, but it should be an encouraging reminder that each of us is a unique and valuable contributor to God’s grand story. In that hope, we can boldly go into the day ahead of us—knowing that we have a purpose today and for eternity with Him.
“This was according to the eternal purpose that He has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him” (Eph. 3:11-12).
© 2023 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV and all images copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.
