Your Mission Control Center

When Neil Armstrong spoke those famous words on July 20, 1969, “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed,” the world was watching the outcome of Apollo 11, the first lunar landing in history. But one group was especially focused on every detail of this historic event— the employees in NASA’s Mission Control Center. Charlie Duke, the capsule commentator responded, “Roger, Tranquility. We copy you on the ground. You’ve got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. We’re breathing again. Thanks a lot.”

The Mission Control Center, located in Houston, monitored nine Gemini and all Apollo lunar missions, including the Apollo 11 trip to the moon and the last Apollo 17 voyage. The center is housed in Building 30 of the Johnson Space Center. From this room, the NASA team exercised full control of Apollo 11 from liftoff to splashdown.

Just as the Mission Control Center directed all the lunar mission operations, so the human mind and heart are the control center for each person. Solomon states, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Sadly, since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), the heart has become the control center for sin in the life.

Jesus explained, “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man. … For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matthew 15:11, 19).

The operations of the whole person—the intellect, will, affections, emotions, body—are influenced by the mind and heart. And when we have given control over to Satan, then sin rules the life. That is why we need to follow God’s call: “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit” (Ezekiel 18:31).

Apply It:

Invite Jesus to take command of your mind and heart today.

Dig Deeper:

Jeremiah 17:9, 10; Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 36:26

Key Bible Texts

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. (Luke 6:45 KJV)