My journey...

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Thoughts from the book of Eli

I am sure that there will be many Christians who will blog about the "Book of Eli". Afterall, you do not have to think really hard to link it to the Bible. Here are my thoughts about the movie.

I have been pondering about the verse in 2 Timothy "Having a form of Godliness but denying the power of God". I am more convinced that the power of God is found in our relationship with God. "Duh". Jesus mentioned in Matthew 7 "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'". It is the heart after God that is where the power of God is. Not in the outward but in the inward. The power of God is not in what we can do but how our hearts are responding to him.

Back to the "Book of Eli." This man Eli had a purpose from God. He heard that God has called him to go west. He is secure and sure with his God. He knew what God wanted of him and he believed and went. That is the power of God. Us responding to his call. Walking so closely with him. Hearing from His heart and acting on it. Eli heard the call of God. For 30 years he just followed that call. It would be easy to give up. I believed he did not give was because he kept a close relationship with this God. He can tell them that God says .... His relationship is current. With that confidence and that faith, it gave him strength.

Then there is this bad guy who wanted the word of God so badly. Not for others but for himself. To dominate people who are hungry to hear the word. Hungry for the faith and hope that the word of God delivers. Then he plan to control these people when their hearts are touched. This is not something new. Even in the time of Martin Luther, leaders of the church have been controlling people with the word. In the name of religion. Made them pay taxes. Extort their money and possessions. Control their minds. Not that the people are weak but because they are the one who are entrusted with the word of God. The teachers of the word that captures the heart of the people. Even when we go back to the time of Jesus. You will find such people. Those who misuse the "power" given to them. Today you will find these people as well. Sad to say. I attended a meeting once and the person collecting offering actually said "God is ready to bless you if you give. Think of what you want and the more you give, the more he will bless." Where is the teaching about the heart of giving? Then there are those who misuse their power as a leader and control church members to achieve their own goals. To make a name for themselves. Not for God.

Of course the show is fiction. but the values and the lessons are very applicable. You can even find stories in the bible with like themes. Where the purposes of God is always achieved even though he uses us mere human beings to achieve them. God will always be with those whose hearts are after him. People who does great things not because of their ability but because of the power of God in them. People who have a relationship with God. Trusted in his word and believed will see great things. It is not about how much we know the word or do "His" work. It is about how we walk with him. How we draw close to him. As we do that, we become more like Christ and more like the original intention He created us for. To have a relationship with Him.

We do not need to strive for perfection. We cannot be perfect. Imagine The Pharisees. Those who knows the word and the law and lived according to it. But their hearts are cold and far from God. Then imagine Peter. Who always seem to get himself in trouble. One moment he had this revelation that Jesus is the Son of God and the next, Jesus has to rebuke the devil in him for denying the work of God. He is the one who says that he will not deny Jesus but shortly after denied Jesus 3 times because of fear. Yet when he heard the cock crows, he broke down to cry cause he knows he has disappointed Jesus. He knows that what Jesus said was true. He had a relationship with Jesus and he was sorry for his action.

Jesus did not go to comfort the Pharisee who have plotted the death of Jesus. This is not because they have plotted his death. Jesus went after Peter who have denied him to restore him because of the love for each other. Jesus assured Peter 3 times and then commissioned him to take care of the flock. The power of God. Working in the hearts of those who love him. After that, Peter did wonderful things for God but the love for God came first. That relationship came first. The heart of a man after God's own heart. The wonder of the gospel. It is not in what we can do but what God can do through us. He works from the inside out.

Someone said this profound statement. If you break an egg from the outside, it kills it. But if the egg is broken from the inside, that is life that will come out.

Peter was not perfect. David who is known as a man after God's own heart was not perfect. He committed murder and adultery. We are not perfect. But if we walk closely with God allowing him to cause life to grow from the inside of us, many will be blessed. The power of God comes only from a heart that is after His. A heart that desire His.



posted by Janelle at 7:15 PM 1 comments