I love movies.
No, scratch that -- I like movies.
This is false.
I love movies, I really do.
Watching a good movie is like drinking a cold glass of lemonade on a hot summer day. mmm~ it just hits the spot. Watching a great movie is heaven on earth, seriously.
Also, my mind is full of useless movie trivia, which, to be frank, I take great pride in.
I've never considered my movie fascination (nay, obsession) to be stumbling or stifling in any way. But today, I read something on Kevin DeYoung's blog that caught my attention:
Did Christ die so we can watch actors french kiss and grope each other or have sexual intercourse (even if their characters are married and "they don’t show everything")? Did Christ die so we can hear people take the Lord’s name in vain a bazillion times in 90 minutes? Did Christ die so we can have the liberty to laugh at gay jokes? I’m not saying movies and TV shows that depict sin are automatically wrong. But what if they depict sin as fetching? Or as funny? Or what if they present sin as dark and gruesome and blow-out-your brains evil, but never lift you out of the cesspool of sin?
At first, I read this and thought, that's extreme. But as the day went on, his words continued to echo within the empty corridors of my mind. At last, I was convinced and thought, that's deep.
How lightly I take the markings of the world. What am I feeding my eyes, mind, and ultimately, my heart? "The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly." (Proverbs 15:14) We wash down our sins and the things, the garbage we fill our minds with and waste our time on. How much money have I wasted on improving my DVD collection? How much time have I wasted on doing nothing but sitting on a couch/bed/theater? Just today I was lying on my couch burrito-ed inside my Linus blanket with my hair in a nasty mess, wearing my oversized pajama clothes and crooked glasses, laughing like a maniac at the adorable crustaceans in Finding Nemo. Suddenly, I imagined Jesus coming through my door and saying, "Cathy! I'm home!" as I stare at Him, in all His glory, unable to roll out of my blanket.
How pathetic.
It's not even just movies. How much time, effort, and money do I waste on godless chatter, Facebook, looking in the mirror -- worldly things that do not edify me in any way? I claim that I wish to become a God-fearing woman, but what practical steps am I taking when I'm lying on my bed, laughing and aw-ing at babies on YouTube?
It reminds me of the scene in Finding Nemo where Nemo goes through the pipes, and it shows these two mindless crabs focusing on a hole for food. They're keeping their eyes set on this goal to find sustenance, but they are suddenly distracted by Nemo's dad who swims pass them, and because of this, they miss their chance on catching food (who was, mind you, Nemo). We are like these stupid crabs. We're so easily distracted by the world and fail to focus on the prize that is Jesus Christ. In doing so, we are left not with empty stomachs but empty lives.
Yes, this life is not my own. I was bought at a price, and He paid it all. Knowing this, I should value each breath I take and every second that passes by. Knowing this, I should live my life differently and perceive the world through the lens of the Eternal.
But... I don't.
Forgive me, Lord.
I live each day carelessly, thinking and convincing myself that I have all the time in the world when it explicitly states in Your Word, "You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." (James 4:14).
God, I ask for a conscience that constantly reminds me that every second is accounted for.
God, I ask for an eternal perspective so that I, by Your grace, may live life for the things that do not wither in flames.
Holy Spirit, will You move me, teach me, guide me to a new kind of life that is so utterly different, so utterly set apart by God?
If Jesus were to ever come through my door, I wish to be on my knees, ready to praise the King of all kings.
