For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)

Are There Extraterrestrials On Other Planets?

The heavens filled with planets and stars have always fascinated the imagination of man. Understanding the vast universe intrigued the minds of ancient philosophers, astronomers, and wise men. Early Greek thinkers such as Democritus, Epicurus, and Anaxagoras suggested the possibility of life in the heavens. In contrast, philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato rejected the idea of inhabited worlds beyond earth. With modern advancements, the question of life on other planets comes to the forefront of possibilities. Alien “sightings” have been reported for many years. Fears about the truth behind Area-51 ignite theorists and conspiracists who believe the government is hiding evidence of life beyond the stars.

For the Christian, the Bible is more than a book of stories; it is an answer to the meaning of life on planet earth. Sometimes questions about aliens challenge students’ understanding of God’s will. Is there an answer about whether there are aliens on other planets, and is there life in the universe waiting to be discovered? Jesus answered the question two thousand years ago when He left Heaven and came to the third rock from the Sun – Earth. Moses records in Genesis 1 that God created the lights in the firmament of the heavens. Two great lights were made to rule the day and the night. He made the stars also. God created Adam and Eve and placed them on the Earth in a place called the Garden of Eden.

The history of man begins after the fall of man. God cast Adam and Eve out of the garden, and children were born. The world is filled with people. There are no other creatures inhabiting the Earth but humans. Heavenly beings appear to humans periodically throughout history to fulfill the Lord’s work. They always appear as men (without wings). There are no alien creatures that appear. Each time a heavenly being speaks to a human, he speaks in their language. The angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her she will bear a son. She does not think he is an alien. Gabriel tells her about the birth of Jesus, and she recognizes Gabriel as the servant of the Lord.

Jesus was born to Mary through the miracle of the virgin birth. The Son of God grows in the manner of all men. In His teachings, Jesus answers the question of whether there is life on other planets. A Jewish ruler named Nicodemus comes to Jesus, seeking to learn from the great Teacher. They are not discussing aliens, but one of Jesus’s statements clarifies the question. Jesus tells Nicodemus that the only begotten Son of God came to earth to die for all men. God so loved the world (earth) that He gave His Son to die for those living on earth. Everyone (on planet earth) who believes Jesus is the Son of God and obeys the will of the Father will be saved. God sent His Son into the world (earth) that, through Jesus, all men might be saved.

There is no life on other planets. God did not create other creatures to live on other planets. Jesus came to earth to save humanity. The Bible is the mind of God revealed to those dwelling on earth, so they may know and understand His will. There will come a day when the earth will be destroyed. The heavens and the earth are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. This judgment does not include aliens. Jesus came to save the creation He shared in creating when, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, He created man in their image. Man was created in the image of God, eliminating the possibility that any other species could have been created.