Avatar is a movie that has been playing on cable television quite often lately. It was originally released in December 2009. I admit, I did not run right out to see it in the theaters, but waited much later until the Blu-Ray came out. I was enthralled by the vivid imagery and the storyline.
The story is loosely based on our history of indigenous people of land being forced to leave by stronger or more "civilized" people making them go. This time, it is a habitable planetoid populated with large blue people, housed over a valuable commodity being raided by futuristic greedy people from Earth (oddly American-like).
I found myself thinking more about the spiritual connection the indigenous people had with their god. They could "see". This is what was important to them. If a body could not see, he was not considered part of their tribe. What did that mean, exactly?
I believe we have the responsibility to teach the blind how to see. Consider this verse in the Bible: For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. ~John 12:45-46 (NLT)
I have considered what God is telling us about darkness in another blogpost, Walking in Darkness. If we don't let go of the world, we will never see the light of God. In the movie, Jake Sully had to give up the values of the Earth he remembered to be able to "see." God sees us. This actually means He knows us to the bottom of our being, and even knowing that core, He loves us. I would like to learn how to see others like He sees us.
If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, had blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. ~2Corinthians 4:3-4 NLT
Kathy, I get two main points: 1. Seeing others as God sees us 2. The Good News is hidden from those who are perishing.
ReplyDeleteI believe God has to remove the veil for those who cannot see. But, see as God sees is the one we can DO something about. The bible tells us, in other places (Eph 4:17 ff) 17 ¶ So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
20 But you did not learn Christ in this way,
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,
22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.
I want that too. To be able to see others as God sees - to know.
I was commenting to a friend "no wonder the many people don't like church or Christians. It seems that many Christians don't even like each other! Who wants to be part of that?
I think the answer is to see others as God see us and then, do it. Be it.
Thanks for another great article.
"What does it mean to see?" Great thought ... and answer. Great post once again.
ReplyDeleteCarl