How often have we become enthralled with a character in a movie or book? How many times do we get caught up with buying the associated merchandise-- posters, wallpaper, soundtracks, games, and DVDs? How many of us memorize the characters’ lines or read and reread what they’ve said? How often do we repeatedly listen to movie trailers or clips or sign up to become members of an actor’s fan club?
Well, there is a new hero out there that’s driving the girls wild, but I would like to submit the idea that he isn’t the real hero we are looking for.
Let me start by explaining that I’ve been reading the book Twilight. Izaak, my son, is the one who introduced me to it. I hadn’t ever heard of it until he started asking us to buy the book for him. Anyway, it’s been all the rage amongst the ladies (young and old) and now the movie version has been released on DVD. The guys I’ve spoken with don’t really seem to care for it much, but the girls--oh man! At first, I thought their reactions were just silly, but then I took Izaak to see the movie. I now get what the hoopla is all about.
(As we have seen) The book begins with the heroine, a young lady named Bella, moving to a small town where she gets to meet a few new people--some of whom happen to be vampires. This pretty girl is different from her peers, since she's mature for her age and fairly comfortable with her personality. Although she is unaware of her own loveliness, she knows her flaws, including clumsiness—especially when it comes to sports. Bella feels rather plain and awkward around other people, and she is so uncoordinated that she doesn’t even want to go to a school dance. Still, there is something special about her. (Can you relate to any of her characteristics?)
Our unlikely hero is a vampire named Edward Cullen. He is, of course, quite beautiful. He has gorgeous topaz eyes that are intense and often focused on Bella. Edward is extremely aware of Bella’s presence. She is a mystery to him and he’s utterly fascinated with her. You find that Edward likes to watch over Bella as she sleeps, is deeply interested in everything she’s thinking and why she thinks it. Edward is very protective of her--even when he himself is the danger. He wants to protect her from himself, yet can’t stay away from her. He is lithe, strong, impossibly fast, and can read everyone’s mind-except hers. What’s more, Edward finds himself utterly in love with Bella, a human. He is anything but safe. Because Edward is a vampire he is immortal and has the power to give her that immortality, should he be willing to do so. Being with him is an adventure for Bella. Everything about him captivates her: his beauty, his laugh, his smell, his smile, his elegant fluid movements, his love of music and his mind. An incredible amount of sexual tension exists between Bella and Edward; however, he refuses to do anything that would hurt her, even though she would happily give herself to him.
As I watched the film, I found myself drawn in. I contemplated Edward’s character in an attempt to understand why. Then suddenly I had that light-bulb moment: he is what every girl has ever wanted. Unfortunately, a man like Edward doesn’t exist. (I saw the young man who played Edward on the front cover of a magazine the other day and his eyes aren’t brown, they’re BLUE!!) No man could ever measure up to him. I know why the boys seem to dislike this movie/book; they already know they can’t be like Edward. They are incapable of satisfying that need that is in the heart of every woman. Not that they don’t have the God-given qualities that He created in them in order to complement us, but since they are human, they simply can’t be that perfect. I believe Edward’s character makes them feel that they don’t have what it takes to fully satisfy the needs of their ladies’ hearts, and it’s true. There’s a black hole that is God-shaped within all of humanity. Beth Moore, a bible teacher, has referred to it as an empty cup. We all have one, and we’re always taking it around to our friends and family, boyfriends & girlfriends, and asking for them to fill it up. The problem is they can’t add anything more than a drop in the proverbial bucket. So we are always NEEDY. We are emotional vampires, draining everyone around us when we take our hearts’ needs to each other. GOD and GOD alone can fill our cups, and He can fill them to over-flowing at that! Then and only then do we have joy to share.
I feel the need to repeat: only our GOD can fill the needs of our hearts! Now, I realize this will come across as a new and strange thought for many, and you may be uncomfortable with parts of it--but here goes:
We must take our pent up desires (that which causes us to grab onto idols) and passions to GOD. All those things about Edward that draws us to idolize him are the very attributes we find in God.
Our GOD is beautiful beyond compare. He’s creative and can be wherever he wants, whenever He wants. The LORD romances us through: sunrises, sunsets, snowflakes, spring showers, rainbows, lovely flowers, majestic mountains, star-studded skies, tender moments and sweet lullabies. He romances us with the smell of roses, lilies, puppies’ breath and newborn babies skin. GOD is the original creator of music and he uses it to draw us close to him. The sound of the wind in the trees, trickling streams, chirping tree frogs, and the warble of bird’s songs. GOD is fascinated with us and is very aware of us individually. The LORD watches over you when you sleep or go about your day. He never sleeps and there is never a moment when he doesn’t know where you are or what you’re doing. GOD is protective, and can’t stay away from you. He deeply cares about what you are thinking and how you feel. He is immortal and can indeed pass that immortality on to you. God has demonstrated his love for you. There is no one and nothing more dangerous than the LORD GOD, yet He was willing to have His beloved son (his one and only son, JESUS) leave His throne to come to earth, to be subjected to the same hurt and pain we have endured, be a leader who could heal the sick, forgive sins, and teach us who GOD really is. Then he suffered, died and was buried, and on the third day He was raised from the dead! Willfully becoming our Savior. He isn’t ever boring and being with him is the greatest adventure you will ever experience!
The world teaches Satan’s greatest LIE--that we can find satisfaction apart from GOD Himself. Our satisfaction is NOT in what GOD can do for us or in material things He can give us. It is in HIM--knowing Him and having a relationship with Him.
In Matthew West’s song “The Motions,” he sings, “I don’t want to go through the motions; I don’t want to go one more day without your all-consuming passion inside of me. I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking, ‘what if I had given everything, instead of going through the motions?’”
So I ask you today, how about you? Do you want to simply go through the motions? Do you want to someday ask yourself, “What if I had given GOD my all? How different would my life have been?” Or do you want to live a life filled with an all-consuming passion, living a life of adventure, and yes, sometimes pain, yet living it to the absolute fullest? If so, reach out and take the hand of Christ. He has it extended to you already. All you have to do is say, “Yes, Lord. I’m giving all of me to You. I will follow you.”
Repent (of your sins), Receive (Christ as your Savior) and Relinquish (doing things your own way to follow Him whole heartedly)--give yourself to him today.
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