Asteroid!

July 6th, 2019| Topic: RaMbLeS | 0

You want to be a billionaire?

NASA has identified a nearby asteroid, Psyche-16, that is apparently worth $700 quintillion (= $700,000,000,000,000,000,000). This means that every man, woman, and child of the 7.7 billion (= 7,700,000,000) that currently live on this planet could, conceivably, get $90.1 billion (= $90,909,090,909.09) each.

What with a number of world powers who would like to get their hands on this jackpot, it will be another Gold Rush. Even tiny Luxembourg (pop. 600,000; area 1000 square miles) has ten space-mining companies registered since 2016, some targeting space explorations to the Moon, and others eyeing near-Earth asteroids for mining.

Scott Moore, CEO of EuroSun Mining, asserted:

What we’re doing on the ground now may be impressive, but like everything else, even gold exploration in space is only a matter of infrastructure. We’ll get to it, eventually.”

After all, it is only 750 million kilometers (= 750,000,000 km) or 466 million miles (466,028,000 miles) away from ye olde planet, Earth.

Declared Professor John Zarnecki, president of the Royal Astronomical Society:

I estimate that it would take around 25 years to get ‘proof of concept,’ and 50 years to start commercial production.”

But the Psyche-16 Asteroid is not the only thing of interest in the skies above. Another small asteroid measuring 200 meters in length could be worth $30 billion in platinum.

Indeed, Morgan Stanley estimates the global space economy to be worth $350 billion (= $350,000,000,000) today. By 2040, they assume, it will be worth a cosmic $2.7 trillion (= $2,700,000,000,000).

But, I wondered, if that much gold is brought to earth, won’t its value decline? If it is that easily available, will it be a rare metal, precious, and worth $1,400 per ounce as it is today?

If it is treasure we really want, ask Jesus about it, as did one guy:

“Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
Mark 10:17

In Jewish conception, this term, “inheriting eternal life”—and others like it in Mark 10 (“receiving” and “entering” the kingdom of God, “having treasure in heaven,” and even “being saved”)—indicated how we would be received by God in the afterlife, the honor and glory that would be ours—i.e., rewards for believers.

While salvation is not by works, of course, the rewards promised to believers when we see Jesus is based on works—how each of us lived our Christian life (after we got saved).

Jesus’ reply to treasure hunter:

“… go, whatever you have, sell, and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven [rewards], and come, follow Me.”
Mark 10:21

This is a radical call to discipleship. Give now; get later.

But saddened by the words, he went away distressed, for he had many possessions.
Mark 10:22

Our possessions. Do we possess them? Or do they possess us?

And looking around, Jesus said to His disciples,
“How hard for those having wealth to enter into the kingdom of God [i.e., get rewards]!”
Mark 10:23

If we are rich (and that’s all of us in the developed world), Jesus says, we will tend to depend too much on our riches, and our possessions will possess us, keeping us from receiving those eternal rewards for depending on God alone.

Possessions and wealth are gifts of God, given by God to us so we can be stewards of them for others. We’re not owners, but stewards, trustees, temporary managers of what belongs to God.

Willingness to give up all for the cause of the Jesus, in utter dependence on God, is a requirement of all—all!—of God’s children, … if we want rewards in heaven.

Don’t go chasing asteroids!