On March 2, 1972 NASA launched their first robotic space probe, Pioneer 10, to complete a celestial reconnaissance mission that would be the first of its kind. On behalf of scientists this spacecraft would traverse and study the asteroid belt, solar wind, and cosmic rays while eventually making its way to Jupiter's orbit to capture hundreds of photos and test the environment. All this data would be communicated back to NASA where the men who hurled this stellar explorer into the Great Beyond would glory in their creation and the proficiency in which it communicated the information it was designed to retrieve.
On April 6, 1973 NASA sent their second space probe, Pioneer 11, to fulfill an almost identical purpose with one of the main exceptions being that this craft would journey as far as Saturn and eventually be the first to travel beyond its orbit.
NASA gave careful consideration to the possibility that for a number of bizarre reasons these spacecrafts might cross the paths and fall into the hands of extra-terrestrial life. Based on this logic, a 9" x 6" plaque was installed at a particular location on both of these vehicles. This plaque was a visual aid that displayed a chart of the trajectory of that particular craft to show it's intended destination, a radial pattern that indicated the relative position of the Sun to the center of the galaxy, and a sketch of a naked man and woman.
Scientists state that the plaque is supposed to indicate three things: 1. Where we are. 2. What we look like. 3. The date the mission began.
As with any man-made machine things are obviously prone to fail at some time or another. However, as long as communication is maintained, success will be the verdict.
In 1995, the last transmission was received from Pioneer 11, and likewise from Pioneer 10, in 2003. The official reason given for the failure in communication was 'increased distance' and 'steadily weakening power'.
These spacecrafts are now considered functionally dead because they are no longer communicating and fulfilling the purpose for which they were created. They are still traveling through space and NASA says that if they ever start communicating again they will no longer be useless (dead).
James 2:26 says, For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
We have to keep in mind here that James is speaking to believers in Christ who have grown indifferent and powerless in their faith because of their impatience with God. They have become self-willed and impartial, letting their love wax cold. Their ability to communicate their faith has been compromised. James urges them to think about facing the Judgment Seat Of Christ with a good conscience and the knowledge that they have lived out the purpose for which God has created them - demonstrating good works that reflect the nature of the one true God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
James wants to emphasize that these people are not spiritually dead, but rather that they have let their faith die on the vine because they have neglected the good works that empower and grow their faith, which would allow them to make an impact on the world around them.
His analogy is quite simple. If I was standing before you and I dropped dead, then what you would have on your hands is a body without a spirit. Without my spirit, my body has lost all animation, vitality, and effectiveness and I can no longer communicate anything that would define me or benefit you. Instead, at that point I would be an annoying, burdensome stumbling block. My spirit would go home to be with the Lord but you would have a mess on your hands. Not cool!
Without works I cannot demonstrate my faith, profit those around me (or myself at the Judgment Seat of Christ), convincingly define (justify) myself (before men), or be free to be the person God created me to be. In other words, I would be spiritually impotent!
Death in scripture is always defined as 'separation'. Separation from 'what' is determined by the text. In this case, we would not be separated from God in an eternal sense, but rather, separated from all the blessings that God had in store for us (James 1:21,25).
The good news is, just as Pioneer 10 & 11 could be considered functional again if they would ever come back into range - likewise, we have the same option.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.
If we continue to increase the distance between ourselves and God's Word and what He has told us to do in His Word, then we will continue to see a decrease in power until we have finally drained our spiritual battery.
So let's get out there and tell others where we are with God, where our path of travel is taking us, show them what we are supposed to look like, and tell them what date our mission began.
James 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
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