By Stuart Powell
“Space: the final frontier . . .”
Exploration and discovery of the unknown was the common theme behind all of Gene Roddenberry’s fictitious Star Trek stories. Most of the journeys he imagined for the crew of the USS Enterprise involved encounters with alien life and unknown civilizations among the stars. The crew blazed new trails in the fictitious future. Roddenberry sought to avoid spiritual truths, yet there are many lessons for Christians embedded in those futuristic fables. One such lesson can be found in the movie Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
In a twist on the title, the “country” awaiting exploration is not some distant planet or solar system. Rather, it is a trek that explores the causes of conflict. It begins with a tragedy among the Klingons (the persistent enemies of the benevolent Federation). Many in the Federation choose to do nothing when they hear about their enemies’ desperation. Instead, they wait for their enemies to succumb to the tragedy and die. However, one Federation character opposes the apathy. He persuades the leaders to act in mercy by framing the aid offer as another mission of discovery. The quest to heal the animosity between the two civilizations is the “undiscovered country” of this mission.
As Christians, we must never forget that we are walking the path of the “undiscovered country.” Every day, we encounter people living in sin who are enemies of God (James 4:4). God was not content to wait for his enemies to succumb to their sinful collapse. We must remember God’s love for them because we too once lived in rebellion against God. God sent a man on a quest to heal the animosity between God and his enemies. Paul explained,
For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation (Romans 5:10-11).
Jesus’ death on the cross is the means for God’s enemies to be reconciled with him. The path to the real “undiscovered country” was blazed by the Son of God. The division between humanity and God was healed through the mercy and grace available in Jesus’ death. That is what we celebrate at this time. The bread and the cup of the Lord’s Supper help us remember the price Jesus paid. He opened the way for all people to explore the “undiscovered country” of God’s forgiveness and grace.
Stuart Powell lives outside of Terre Haute, Indiana, where he serves with the North Side Christian Church.
Author: Christian Standard
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