Extra Terrestrial Beings

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

I was speaking with two men in their mid 20’s on a plane recently, as we flew from Los Angeles to Atlanta, Georgia. Mike and Jeff were tech guys who installed computer programs in the homes of the rich, so that they could control an entire home at the touch of a button. Amazingly, they could program the music, the AC, and other appliances in someone’s home back in Los Angeles, from a laptop 20,000 feet in the air as we flew over Texas.

Both of them believed in the theory of evolution, and didn’t believe that there was life after death. They did, however, believe that there was life on other planets, "somewhere in the universe." They were right in their beliefs. There are extra terrestrial beings. One of them appeared to Zacharias as he prayed in the temple, and rightfully, the experience terrified him. In other places in Scripture we are told when these incredibly powerful "celestial" beings manifest themselves to brave Roman soldiers, they fainted like women and lay on the ground as dead men.

Gabriel told Zacharias that he had been heard by God. He would grant them both a child in their old age. Notice in the text the absolute surety of this taking place. I have used the old KJV to make this important point. In the KJV the word "shall" or "shalt" are used at least eight times.

One of the greatest joys of being a Christian is the absolute knowledge that there are certain things that are "sure." There will be a Day of ultimate justice. There is life after death that you and I can tap into, in this life. There is a Heaven and there is a Hell. These things are for sure. But take the life’s philosophy of the faithless atheist. For him, nothing is sure. He doesn’t know what created everything. He doesn’t know why he’s alive, nor does he know what happens after death. He lives without assurance. His feet are firmly planted in mid air.

Gabriel told Zacharias that he was going to have a son, that his name would be John, and that many would rejoice at his birth. He wouldn’t drink strong drink, he would be filled with the Holy Spirit, and that God would greatly use him to prepare the way for the Messiah. This "John" would have the ministry of turning the "disobedient to the wisdom of the just." The "just" are those who have been justified by God. They are the "blessed" ones who have had their sins forgiven (see Psalm 32:1). These people are those God has separated for Himself, and they live life by a wisdom that’s not of this world. The Apostle Paul speaks of the world’s and God’s amazing wisdom in 1 Corinthians chapters 1 and 2.

What was about to happen to Zacharias and Elizabeth was ordained by God. The good news of the birth of John the Baptist was going to take place. But what was Zacharias’ reaction to this good news? You won’t believe what he said...

Pic. A six day old Human Embryo implanting itself onto the wall of the womb.