Tonight I
watched a movie. Not an uncommon occurrence for me, though since moving to China I find it much
easier to binge on TV shows than sit through one entire movie… My roommate and
I went for hot pot this evening and then snuggled down under mountains of
blankets to an action movie. Neither of us had ever seen it before, but I
wanted something new and she didn’t care what we watched so we popped the disk
in and watched.
………………
I don’t
think I’d ever recommend the movie to anyone, it wasn’t very good, but I
learned a lot from it. First, my freshman History of Civilization class came
coursing back to me as I heard my professor’s admonishing of evil promoted in
movies. We have learned to hero the evil for the sake of the main character’s
well-being. I scoffed a little bit when he said this…while I recognized some
truth to what he said, I thought he was way over-doing it. Ironically, it was
the first thing I noticed about this movie.
The other
thing I noticed about this movie was incredible picture it was to sin. The
basic story line of the film was this: A young man tries to deal drugs and the
drop goes bad. As a result he ropes his sister’s husband into the “clean-up”.
In the process, dozens of people (and inevitably their families) are brought into
the situation with many dying. In the end, the young man and his brother-in-law
(the hero) become millionaires and the “bad guys” are all either dead or in
prison (Real ‘Ocean’s’ stuff here). As I sat and watched, my heart grew sadder
and sadder until I felt tears welling in my eyes- not because I was sad for
what was occurring in the film, but because of the depravation that was
unfolding in front of my eyes.
Sin: it’s a
web that draws unending wells of people, families, hearts, and futures into
it’s grasp, often promising protection and pay-off, but only ever giving death
and heart-ache. No matter what we do, how we sin- whether idolatry, adultery,
envy, pride- it ropes those we love most into our web with us. We could never
imagine the effects of our sin on those around us. Every choice, decision,
compromise we make- it effects countless others with adverse consequences.
My heart
ached as I watched the film because I knew that many choose this life style
willingly, some choose it unknowingly, but all continue on in it purposefully.
That purpose is self-preservation and pleasure. What my heart had not yet ached
for was the realization that our “respectable sins” have the same effects on
those we love. A harsh word, a defiance to win an argument, fight for self,
fight for rights, competitiveness to the point of wounding…you know the list
could go on, go ahead, add to it your favorite secret or “respectable” sin.
Here, I’ll give you a space: ______________. I’m serious. It’s time to take
control for our choices and actions!
I’m so
thankful we are not left to our own devices, aren’t you? As I contemplated what
I had just witnessed on “the silver screen”, I pressed play on my worship
playlist and “Miracle” by Michael W. Smith came on. The lyrics say,
“Impossible
The war was lost
Before Your blood
Before the cross
My shame no more
My curse no more
You made a way, yeah
You made a way
Your miracle is burning bright in me
I was a slave, and now I'm free
I'm lifting high these broken chains
You always find a way
I am a miracle
I am a miracle
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
I once was lost
But now I'm found”
Are there
tears in your eyes now too? Praise the Lord for the victory He has approved and
made possible with the sacrifice of His Son! Just a couple of weeks ago we
celebrated the birth of that One who would sacrifice it all so that we don’t
have to live and wound under the bondage of sin. Please don’t continue on in
blindness or stubbornness.
This
Halloween a couple of friends and I went to the Halloween party on the island.
It was my first time and several friend’s told me it was really good last year.
Aside from that, a one of my friend’s bands was playing, so why not go and
support? There was a man dressed as a devil there. I’m not talking cutesy horns
and silk cape with a little make-up on. I’m talking full body make-up to the
point he looked like he was smoldering with flames. I’ve learned not to fear
the unreal or silly, but there was something about this man that caused my
spirit (and the Spirit inside me) to be completely repelled. Not fearful, but
the most intense repulsion I have ever felt to anything in my entire life. I
think what got me most of this man’s obvious costume was that he was dragging
with him heavy chains, lurking about, sneaking up on people and scaring them.
The chains have stuck with me since the end of October. I’ve had dreams since
then where God revealed chains I was allowing myself to be bound by and
breaking them for me.
One of my
favorite lines in this song though is this:
“I was a slave, and now I'm free
I'm lifting high these broken chains
You always find a way
I am a miracle”
Wow.
Isn’t that what He did for us? He made a way. He made a new life. He made a
miracle. Why? Because He’s the God of the impossible. The God of miracles. He
makes the lame to walk and the blind to see, He breaks down the high places and
He will be exalted where His name is proclaimed!
So
proclaim His name in your dorm, your house, your room, your school, your
county, your state, your province, your country. Proclaim with me tonight the
Name of Jesus, for at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue
shall proclaim that Jesus is Lord!
“A rebel heart
A restless soul
I lost my sight
I lost control
A cry for hope
Could I be saved
You
found a way”
“...and
these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also
justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
What
then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is
against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us
all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a
charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who
condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at
the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from
the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Just as it is written,
“FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him
who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height,
nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the
love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:30- 36
