We don’t have much time to go to the movies anymore but Cheryl and I went to the movies recently to see “The Book of Eli” with Denzel Washington. If you can get past the extreme violence and filthy language this movie does have some very profound lessons related to “The Book”.
I will try my best not to ruin the movie for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet. The plot is described by imdb.com as follows. Eli (Denzel Washington) has been on a journey for 30 years, walking west across America after a cataclysmic war that turned the earth into a total wasteland. The world has become a lawless civilization where people must kill or be killed. The barren roads belong to gangs of cutthroats who rob and kill for water, a pair of shoes, a lighter, or just for fun. Eli is a peaceful man who only acts in self defense, and becomes a warrior with unbelievable killing skills when he is challenged. After the war and the “Big Flash”, Eli was guided by a higher power to a hidden book and given the task of protecting the book and taking it to its final destination. Eli guards the book with his life, because he knows that the book is the only hope that humanity has for its future.
There is a constant battle in the movie between good and evil over the possession of The Book. Some will kill to have it. He (Eli) will kill to protect it. There is a very powerful truth that comes to light at the very end of this movie and that truth is THE POWER IS NOT IN THE MAN WITH THE BOOK, BUT IN THE BOOK IN THE MAN.
The first chapter of the Gospel of John tells us that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. These scriptures are talking about Jesus. He was the Word and He became flesh and dwelt among us. You and I are just the opposite. We are flesh that need to be made the Word. The Word has no power if it is just sitting on our coffee table or on a bookshelf. It has to become part of us. James 1:21 describes it as an engrafted Word. You and I need a skin graft of the Word kind and the only way to get that accomplished is to spend time in the Word. The Word is quick, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It will bring power into your life. It will fight your battles for you. It will give you direction. It will protect you and bring peace in difficult times.
We encourage each of you today to spend time with The Book (Bible). Let it become so familiar to you that it is a compass for you and leads you just like it led Eli in the movie. When trials come, we run to the Word and not the world. Let it become your sword of the Spirit that you can use to do battle against all enemies. Let it become your personal prophet that will guide your actions and shield you from harm. Let it be your salvation, your deliverance, and your healer. The Word can do all those things and more for it is the only hope that humanity has for its future.
Rev. Ed & Cheryl Henderson
New Life Network, Inc.
www.newlifenetwork-org-staging.smwnm894-liquidwebsites.com
