Act Three-The Rescue
September 19
My movie watching ability is limited. "R" rated movies aren't even an option for me. I do not like violence and evil. Every story, from Genesis, to the movie theaters, and the Hallmark channel, has an evil encounter. Just fast forward to the rescue, hugs, kisses and cheering for my liking! If you've read through the whole Bible, then you know there is a happy ending and as you continue to go back and study again and again you can keep Christ's rescue, in the form of the resurrection, close at hand.
Epic continues in chapter three: "First with Noah, then with Abraham, and then with the nation Israel, you see God looking for a people who will turn to him from the heart, be his intimate allies once more."
If you want to read a thrilling adventure story go back and read of the captivity taking place in Exodus.
Remember God's battle plan, which included parting the Red Sea. Exodus 15:3 says, The Lord is a warrior. And yes, He came to the rescue, but a day later the people were complaining over the food and water and wanted to return to being slaves in Egypt. Really? How sad.
Eldredge explains: "Rescuing the human heart is the hardest mission in the world. The dilemma of the Story is this: we don't know if we want to be rescued. We are so enamored with our small stories and our false gods, we are so bound up in our addictions and our self-centeredness and take-it-for-granted unbelief that we don't even know how to cry out for help. And the Evil One has no intention of letting his captives walk away scot-free. He seduces us, deceives us, assaults us-whatever it takes to keep us in darkness."
There is so much truth in what he says, if we will be honest enough to let us penetrate our souls.
Phillip Yancey paraphrases a passage from Isaiah, trying to give us a glimpse of what it must be like to be God.
I long to be gracious to you. You are precious and honored in my sight, because I love you. But you are the offspring of adulterers. You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill, forsaking me, you uncovered your bed, you climbed into it and opened it wide. You have been false to me.
Eldredge continues:
"God is filled with the jealously of a wounded lover. He has been betrayed time and again...The challenge God faces is rescuing a people who have no idea how captive they are, no real idea how desperate they are. We know we long for Eden, but we hesitate to give ourselves back to God in abandoned trust. We are captivated by the lies of our Enemy. But God has something up his sleeve."
Let's cry out: "Rescue me from myself!" God has a hero for our story! His name is Jesus. If we want to meet him, we need to humble ourselves and confess our sins and ask him to come in!
The Son of Man....came to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28
My movie watching ability is limited. "R" rated movies aren't even an option for me. I do not like violence and evil. Every story, from Genesis, to the movie theaters, and the Hallmark channel, has an evil encounter. Just fast forward to the rescue, hugs, kisses and cheering for my liking! If you've read through the whole Bible, then you know there is a happy ending and as you continue to go back and study again and again you can keep Christ's rescue, in the form of the resurrection, close at hand.
Epic continues in chapter three: "First with Noah, then with Abraham, and then with the nation Israel, you see God looking for a people who will turn to him from the heart, be his intimate allies once more."
If you want to read a thrilling adventure story go back and read of the captivity taking place in Exodus.
Remember God's battle plan, which included parting the Red Sea. Exodus 15:3 says, The Lord is a warrior. And yes, He came to the rescue, but a day later the people were complaining over the food and water and wanted to return to being slaves in Egypt. Really? How sad.
Eldredge explains: "Rescuing the human heart is the hardest mission in the world. The dilemma of the Story is this: we don't know if we want to be rescued. We are so enamored with our small stories and our false gods, we are so bound up in our addictions and our self-centeredness and take-it-for-granted unbelief that we don't even know how to cry out for help. And the Evil One has no intention of letting his captives walk away scot-free. He seduces us, deceives us, assaults us-whatever it takes to keep us in darkness."
There is so much truth in what he says, if we will be honest enough to let us penetrate our souls.
Phillip Yancey paraphrases a passage from Isaiah, trying to give us a glimpse of what it must be like to be God.
I long to be gracious to you. You are precious and honored in my sight, because I love you. But you are the offspring of adulterers. You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill, forsaking me, you uncovered your bed, you climbed into it and opened it wide. You have been false to me.
Eldredge continues:
"God is filled with the jealously of a wounded lover. He has been betrayed time and again...The challenge God faces is rescuing a people who have no idea how captive they are, no real idea how desperate they are. We know we long for Eden, but we hesitate to give ourselves back to God in abandoned trust. We are captivated by the lies of our Enemy. But God has something up his sleeve."
Let's cry out: "Rescue me from myself!" God has a hero for our story! His name is Jesus. If we want to meet him, we need to humble ourselves and confess our sins and ask him to come in!
The Son of Man....came to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28
