“All the days of the afflicted are
evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.”--Proverbs 15:15
(KJV)
Our perspective broadens. We’re taken to a new level
of understanding and joy. (I forgot to turn my stove off. I haven’t checked my
social media accounts in three hours. I haven’t vacuumed my carpet in three
weeks. Who cares?)
Paul, the Apostle of Christ is one of
those groundbreaking films. Let’s look at two messages from it:
1. Look to the Promise, not the
Circumstances.
Rome, Italy. Approximately 75 A.D. Christians are hunted by one of the
most depraved emperors of all time: Nero. He uses them as human torches and puts
them in an arena with wild, starving animals, among other things. He hopes to extinguish
the Christian sect.
The emperor blames them
for burning down half of Rome. (Note: Many
historians believe it was Nero himself who burned the city in order to make
room for a bigger royal palace.) Christians are convenient scapegoats,
since they’re a new, unfamiliar group. Romans are wary of them.
Paul, the
apostle, is imprisoned in one of the most infamous prisons in the city: the
Mamertine. Worse yet, he is not housed among the general population. He’s locked
up in a dark basement cell by himself. The only opening, and light, is offered
by a grate at the top of the cubicle.
Near the end
of the movie, Paul’s friend and scribe, Luke, is also incarcerated in Paul’s
cell. He is allowed to meet with a group of fellow Christians. These
individuals are slated to be slaughtered in the “games” the next day. Thousands
of Romans will watch as the defenseless Christians are thrown into the Coliseum
with wild beasts.
The physician’s
brief message is that the pain will last only a moment, and the sufferers will
go on to eternal glory. This is a strong message from the powerless prisoner of
the largest pagan empire of the ancient world.
(Moral of the Story: Mighty empires
and huge problems often crumble. Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity
in 312 AD. In addition, Rome is now the
headquarters of the Catholic Church. Irony, anyone?)
2. Life is Fleeting; Change Your Outlook.
Paul tells a
brilliant analogy to the commander of the prison. He compares mortality to a
handful of water; it’s soon gone. There’s no way to physically keep it in our
hand, no matter how hard we try. However, existence beyond this life stretches
out like the whole ocean.
(Moral of the story: Are we going to
concern ourselves with something we can’t really hold, or are we going to take
the eternal viewpoint?)
Note: Next week’s article will
explore more deep truths from this wonderful movie. Stay tuned!
My Conclusion
“And he answered, Fear
not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”—2 Kings 6:16
(KJV)
This existence
is all about patience, faith, and hope. Whatever nonsense happens to you, God’s
unchanging promises still stand.
Related Posts
Are you focusing on what God has
promised?
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