THE GOOD LORD RIDE ALL THE WAY

By Dr. M. R. Dowler

We interrupt our study this month of the theology of Christmas with news of the passing of a true American hero, astronaut and former US Senator John Glenn. Glenn died on December 8^th at the age of 95, marking the end of the era of early manned spaceflight. In an age of rampant turmoil and cynicism, we pause briefly to salute the last of NASA’s original Mercury astronauts, brave men epitomized in Tom Wolfe’s 1979 literary account of them in The Right Stuff.

While countless articles over the past few days focus on Glenn’s career, including that famous quote “God Speed John Glenn” from capsule communicator (and fellow Mercury astronaut) Scott Carpenter, there was another quote just before Carpenter’s well-wishes that garners attention. NASA Flight Engineer Tom O’Malley was the one who literally pushed the button to lift Glenn into space. On the morning of February 20, 1962; as the countdown reached zero, O’Malley made the sign of the cross and spoke into his headset, “May the good Lord ride all the way.” And with that John Glenn rode into history.

One detail lost in many of the news reports was of John Glenn’s deep abiding faith in Jesus Christ. As a lifelong Presbyterian, Glenn delivered a sermon in his church shortly after his return to earth. His message, “Why I Know There Is a God” emphasized the vastness of the universe and the work of his Creator God, as well as details of his three-orbit space flight. Interestingly, Glenn added to his testimony years later after his return flight to space in 1998; stating that looking at the earth from outer space strengthened his faith in God.

John Glenn’s testimony corresponds with what the scriptures say about faith. It is only through faith that we can understand the creative work of God (Hebrews 11:3). Theologically, faith is an invisible substance demonstrated in the visible realm (Hebrews 11:1; Romans 1:20). This past Thursday a man of faith took his final flight as he passed the surly bonds of the heavens to ride into the presence of his Savior. The good Lord ride all the way John Glenn. Think about it. Merry Christmas.