Have you ever noticed how similar the plot line of so many of American movies are?

1. Relative time of peace.
2. Evil lurks.
3. Crisis
4. Seeming victory by the good
5. Sudden overcoming by evil – Hero seemed to have lost.
6. Dramatic sacrifice by the hero.
7. Final victory by the good.

I noticed this story line in movies as diverse as Tangled, Matrix, The Lord of the Rings, Lion King, The Sound of Music, Gran Turino, Gladiator…

Why are we so enamored by such a story line? I believe it’s because it’s built into us. It’s the story line that God follows in redeeming the world. His story line goes like this:

1. Relative time of peace – The garden of Eden
2. The Fall of man
3. Sin grows
4. Christ comes and everyone expects him to change the world.
5. Christ is killed and all seemed lost!
6. Christ is sacrificed on the cross.
7. He is resurrected and kingdom of God grows!

In Rev. 13:8, “All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast – all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.”

It will seem once again that all is lost, that even what Christ has done is made ineffective. However, in the very end, God will sweep down on the earth and judge Satan and His demons for good and eradicate this world of evil once and for all.

We are somewhere in that grand story line. The movie is not over yet! At times all will seem lost and what we have worked for is meaningless. But we know the ending already. We know that in the end Christ will have the final victory and we will overcome with Him.

However, in the meantime we must continue living in the story to carry it on for others. My only hope is that we will contribute positively to the story.

Persevere and hope in God. He WILL overcome!

PH