In the last couple of days I have been thinking about the bad rep that God gets. What I mean is that He gets blamed for a whole lot of stuff that people choose to do, whether done by the ones who say they believe in Him ... or not.
I am a self-admitted Indiana Jones fan. Especially the first and third movies. There are so many images in those films that are supremely symbolic - they remind me of important lessons that often get either overlooked or pooh-poohed. There is such a thing as right and wrong. There are things that are beyond our understanding. Actions have consequences. And people are responsible for their own actions.
One poignant scene is the one in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" where Donovan, the bad guy, gets dibs on choosing a cup from which to drink the water from the fountain of youth. The knight warns both Indy and Donovan to choose wisely, for only when the water is in the Holy Grail does it bring life to the drinker. The same water in a false Grail will bring death. With the help of an expert, he chooses a beautiful chalice which he deems "befitting the King of kings" - and drinks. The results are not pretty (click here to see this classic clip and I hope you've turned up the volume; the video will open in a new window). Some call this scene funny or corny. For me, it's a reminder.
When Indy chooses the correct Grail, things are not suddenly sunshine and roses for him either. Yes, he doesn't die - and yes, he's able to save his dad's life as well. But his struggles are not over either. Neither are his temptations to choose poorly.
We were created with the ability to choose, something upon which God places a great deal of value. We could have been automatons, but what would have been the point? He wanted us to WANT Him.
Sometimes bad stuff happens to us and there seems to be no reason for it. Bad things - and good things, for that matter - do happen to ALL people. But much of the bad stuff that happens to us is of our own making. Many of us make bad choices and the consequences are ... let's say they're unpleasant. The irrevocable law of the harvest, "You reap what you sow," kicks in. The tendency we have at those times is to question God, to question His goodness or His love, when in fact it is our own choices that have led to the outcomes and ... God is just a handy scapegoat we use to avoid taking responsibility for "choosing poorly." I've heard people do it all the time: blame God for for famines and poverty, for wars, for religious persecution. But in most cases whatever horrible thing for which folks blame God arises out of a poor choice, or a series of poor choices, made by people who have the power to choose.
That 1989 movie reminds me that choosing wisely MIGHT bring consequences I might not like. Yet it is still preferable to choosing poorly.
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| Found through Google Images at http://indianajones.wikia.com/wiki/False_Grail |
One poignant scene is the one in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" where Donovan, the bad guy, gets dibs on choosing a cup from which to drink the water from the fountain of youth. The knight warns both Indy and Donovan to choose wisely, for only when the water is in the Holy Grail does it bring life to the drinker. The same water in a false Grail will bring death. With the help of an expert, he chooses a beautiful chalice which he deems "befitting the King of kings" - and drinks. The results are not pretty (click here to see this classic clip and I hope you've turned up the volume; the video will open in a new window). Some call this scene funny or corny. For me, it's a reminder.
When Indy chooses the correct Grail, things are not suddenly sunshine and roses for him either. Yes, he doesn't die - and yes, he's able to save his dad's life as well. But his struggles are not over either. Neither are his temptations to choose poorly.
We were created with the ability to choose, something upon which God places a great deal of value. We could have been automatons, but what would have been the point? He wanted us to WANT Him.
Sometimes bad stuff happens to us and there seems to be no reason for it. Bad things - and good things, for that matter - do happen to ALL people. But much of the bad stuff that happens to us is of our own making. Many of us make bad choices and the consequences are ... let's say they're unpleasant. The irrevocable law of the harvest, "You reap what you sow," kicks in. The tendency we have at those times is to question God, to question His goodness or His love, when in fact it is our own choices that have led to the outcomes and ... God is just a handy scapegoat we use to avoid taking responsibility for "choosing poorly." I've heard people do it all the time: blame God for for famines and poverty, for wars, for religious persecution. But in most cases whatever horrible thing for which folks blame God arises out of a poor choice, or a series of poor choices, made by people who have the power to choose.
That 1989 movie reminds me that choosing wisely MIGHT bring consequences I might not like. Yet it is still preferable to choosing poorly.
Very difficult topic, but you describe it so well. Yes, we do become trapped in the web of our bad choices. God gives us grace to achieve righteousness even in our circumstance, but many times we have a long season of untangling ourselves from our actions! Thank God that He can still use us where we are at!
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, that He can! And thanks for stopping by Alisa!
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