mars

There is now extensive evidence that water exists - and certainly has existed - on the surface of Mars. (See: http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSN3136620220080801)

This means that life was - possibly is? - at least feasible on Mars in the past.

If NASA concludes that there is evidence that life in the form of microbial organisms at one point existed upon the surface... what does that mean theologically?

At very least, it should pose huge questions to young earth creationists. The existence of life in the smallest, most unsophisticated form upon an alien surface capable of, according to modern scientific theory, producing life, provides a huge boon for evolutionary theory. The hardest question for evolutionary scientists to solve is, "What originally could have caused the transition from inorganic, static substance to organic, self-replicating life?" The existence of that very life, in the smallest, simplest form should cause young earth creationists to take pause and re-examine the evidence behind evolutionary theory.

But more than the worthless, tiresome and, ultimately unimportant question of creation, the possible existence of microbial life on Mars continues to raise interesting theological question.

Life was created to glorify God. Now, the original creation was created within a system of harmony and goodness. In theory, the very creation of this world brought glory to God, because in creating he fulfills his character and nature as the Creator. But, over and against his general character, he created the world to sustain humanity, which has the blessed choice to glorify him. Thus, even in the Garden of Eden, humanity was given the choice not to eat from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This choice, then, to glorify God, is ultimately the crux of the efficacy of humanity as a means for the greatest glory to God.

There is no such system on Mars. In 11th grade, I wrote a paper for physics answering the question, "Is there life in the universe?" I said, essentially, "Who knows? But if there is, they'll worship the same God we do."

The answer doesn't exactly apply to microbial bacteria.

So, if there is/was life on Mars... to what end? Is it now that the discovery of God's cosmic creation of life leads God to greater glory in the eyes of humanity? Was the creation of life on Mars simply a fulfillment of God's creator nature? Or could it be that when God created, he set in place principals and physical laws by which this world might be governed - which he sustains and uses to his glory, and which, by his omniscient foreknowledge would bring about the ordained creation of humanity - but which also might allow for the creation... the evolution?... of life somewhere other than Earth.

So, something else to think of. Whatever the answer, lets be sure that this discovery - that these continuations into the brilliance and grandeur of God's creation continually lead us to our knees in prayerful praise and thanks to a God who did create... and who saw that his creation was good.