3 November

Today’s the day when in 1957 Russia launched a dog into space. Laika, described only as ‘a female Russian breed’, was the first living creature to be sent into space. She travelled on the satellite Sputnik II and was fitted with monitors to check her heartbeat and other vital signs. Animal welfare organisations expressed outrage but the Russian authorities insisted that this experiment allowed them to learn vital information about the prospects for human space travel. So you might say that Laika was the pioneer for all the human beings who since travelled in space.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is the only way to the Father and in Hebrews 6 it explains that he is the pioneer who has gone before us into God’s to prepare the way for us to follow. This is what it says:

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.