For homeschooling yesterday, we watched the movie God’s Not
Dead. For the most part I enjoyed the
movie. I agree with the point that God is not dead. I also agree with the
explanation about suffering among the good and success among the evil. But there
are a couple of points I do not agree with. I don’t agree with the ideology
that faith in Jesus automatically grants you salvation and that you go straight
to heaven upon your death. There are fundamental truths found in the bible that
contradict this ideology. There is something more to faith than just saying, “I
believe.” I would like to share this with you.
For anyone who has faith in whatever religion they practice,
the first thing to have is a genuine belief that your God is very much alive.
Without such a belief then you have no basis for your faith. As a Jehovah’s
Witness, for me Jehovah is very much alive.
There is no doubt in my mind that He exists and that because of Him we
have all come to exist. (Revelation 4:11) There was never any doubt in my mind
about His existence. Mind you at times
in my life I questioned if he was listening to me or if he cared about me. But I
know the answer to those questions were, and have always been, “yes.” I have
also learned that it was during my most difficult times that He carried me and
helped me through. The scriptures confirm
this. In Psalm 34:18 we read, “Jehovah is close to the broken-hearted; He saves
those who are crushed in spirit.” As my relationship grows more and more with Jehovah,
I’ve come to see Him as my father, my God and my friend. For Him to be all
those things to me, He has to be
alive.
But life doesn’t always run smoothly. We face trials
sometimes that seem unbearable. It makes us wonder why we suffer while others
always seem to prosper. This movie makes a valid point in regards to
suffering. It is during the scene when
Marc (Dean Cain) goes to visit his mom who is in a nursing home. The scene
starts off with him sitting and questioning why he is even visiting her. He goes
on to say, “You prayed and believed your whole life. Never did anything wrong
and here you are. You’re the nicest person I know. I’m the meanest. You have
dementia. My life is perfect. Explain that to me?” Her response to him is
straightforward, clear and to the point, bang on! She says to him, “Sometimes
the Devil allows people to live a life free of trouble because he doesn’t want
them turning to God. His sin is like a jail cell expect it’s all nice and comfy
and there doesn’t seem to be a need to leave. The door is wide open. Then one
day time runs out the cell door slams shut and suddenly it’s too late.” Then to
drive the point home she says, “Who are you again?” Because in the end, to
Satan, we are nothing. Nobodies. Worthless tools used by him to promote his
perverse agenda. The bible says that it’s Satan who rules this world, (1 John
5:19) and it’s him that is misleading the world, (Revelation 12:9). There is a
movie on the JW broadcasting website entitled, “Young People Ask – What Will I
Do With My Life?” There is one line that is powerful. It’s delivered by the grandmother of the main
character, Andre. She says to him when he asks if it is wrong to be a track
star, “If you want to be a star in Satan’s wold, don’t you think he’s going to
want something from you?” Isn’t that so true? Give him your hand and he will
take your whole arm! Once he has a hold of you, then your faith is what he will
go after.
Which leads me to the topic about faith. The movie implies
that simply having faith in Jesus gives you automatic salvation. That is a
wonderful idea. But it isn’t as simple as saying, “I believe in Jesus,” that
will grant you salvation. In the movie Reverend Dave is helping Professor
Radisson make peace within himself moments before he dies. Reverend Dave says, “God
is willing to forgive you of your sins, all of them if you accept His son and
ask him into your life. That’s all you have to do… is just accept his son,
accept his love and receive his forgiveness right now. Do you accept him as lord
and saviour?” There is a belief that having faith assures you salvation. But no
one is guaranteed automatic salvation. Yes because of Jesus’ sacrificial death
we were all given the hope of our sins to be forgiven. But that doesn’t mean we
are saved as a people destined for heaven. (More on this point later) In Acts
10:43 it states, “To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone putting
faith in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” In order to have
faith there must be some work to prove it. It’s like telling someone you love
them but never truly showing or demonstrating that love for them. There are
several scriptures found in the book of James that states this very fact.
(James 2: 17, 18, 20. And 26) Even Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone
saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but
only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. Many will
say to me in the day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel
demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ And then I
will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of
lawlessness!’” So you need to do
more than sing praises at a concert, more than contest with an atheist
professor, more than help someone moments before he dies…there is more! Faith
in Jesus becomes a total way of life. In the previous verses before the ones I
just cited, Jesus says, “Be on the watch for the false prophets who come to you
in sheep’s covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you
will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from
thistles, do they? Likewise, every good tree produces find fruit, but every
rotten tree produces worthless fruit. A good tree cannot bear worthless fruit,
nor can a rotten tree produce fine fruit. Every tree not producing fine fruit
is cut down and thrown into the fire. Really, then, by their fruits you will
recognize those men.” In the movie, there was a character name Ayisha who was
raised as a Muslim but had hid her new belief in Jesus for over a year. She knew
this would be dangerous in her family, yet she continued to put faith in Jesus.
When her very traditional Muslim father discovered her secret, he threw her out
of the house. There are many Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world that face the
same, if not worse, persecution in their homes and countries. The reason being
is that their “fruits” are looked down upon. Preaching. Meetings. Bible study. Not
following the worldly holidays that stem from pagan origins. No political
alliance. No war. No compromising whatsoever! Even if death by persecution is
imminent…no compromise. Ever!
This unwavering faith is because we have faith in the
promises found in the bible. We know for certain that everything Jehovah has
said, whether through the prophets or through His son Jesus, will come true.
This leads me to the topic about heaven. Reverend Dave tells a dying Professor
Radisson that, “In a few minutes you are going to know more about God than I do
and anyone else does.” Here he is implying that Professor Radisson would soon
join God in heaven because moments ago he accepted Jesus as saviour. It’s this
ideology that I find a real disagreement with. In the book of Revelation it
clearly states who will be in heaven as co-rulers with Jesus. (Rev. 14: 1, 3)
Let’s think about this idea for a moment. If everyone who died that believed in
Jesus were to go into heaven and became a co-ruler with Jesus, then who are
they ruling over? Themselves? If that is the case, how would the hierarchy work?
Would God agree with some being more superior then others? Would that not lead
to further possible rebellion? How unrealistic! The reality of it all is that
Jesus set a covenant – an agreement – with only a chosen few. He established
this agreement the night of his last meal. (For more information on this visit
the JW website) In John 14:3, Jesus says, “ Also, if I go my way and prepare a
place for you, I will come again and will receive you home to myself, so that
where I am you also may be.” So you may ask yourself, what about the rest of
us? In John 5: 28, 29 it says, “Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming
in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out,
those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced
vile things to a resurrection of judgment.” Even the man Job believed in the
resurrection years before Jesus declared it. Job said in Job 14:14, 15, “If a
man dies, can he live again? I willl wait
all the days of my compulsory service until my relief comes. You will call, and
I will answer you. You will long for the work of your hands.” Jehovah created
man to live on earth in a paradise on earth. He didn’t create the earth for it
to be destroyed and barren one day. He created it for us. For our use. For our
enjoyment. (Isaiah 45:18) He didn’t create man to live only for a moment of
time and then die. How unloving of God would that be? He wants us to live! He
wants us to live on the beautiful earth He created. He went so far as to send
His only-begotten son for us. (John 3:16)
So in conclusion, the premise of the movie is great. It’s
wonderful to see so many young ones searching for God and wanting to put faith
in Jesus. But the reality of it all is that there needs to be an exercising of
faith, a following of all Jesus’ commands that are in agreement with Jehovah’s
will, no compromising even in the small things. Jehovah God is not dead! He is
very much alive and yearns for all mankind to return to Him in spirit and
truth. (John 4:24) He wants us to
exercise faith in His son. He wants us to acknowledge Him as sovereign ruler.
He wants us to shun what is bad and love what is good. He wants us to attain to
everlasting life. (John 17:3) He wants us to draw close to Him so He can become
to everyone a Father, a God and a Friend.