There is no doubt that I watch WAAAY too much TV,
or that movies have played too large a roll in my life and in the lives of my
children. In fact at family gatherings, if someone errantly says “You lookin’
at me?” We better be ready for Hunter to follow up with “You rub my lamp?” and
proceed to go into the entire genie monologue from Aladdin. Finally ending with
“Weeeeeeeee’re outa here!” Unfortunately, I could give MANY more examples.
All my inadequacies aside, over the past month or
so I cannot help but see that if we will let God use it, He can use ANYTHING,
even a reality show, to give us a picture of His Salvation!
Whether you have ever watched the show SURVIVOR
or not, I’m sure you know the premise. Eighteen people living in the wilderness
with each other for up to 39 days. During which time, they strategize, talk,
manipulate, finagle, lie, cheat, schmoose, charm or whatever else it takes to
win a million dollars for the one man or woman left standing (hopefully
themselves). It doesn’t matter to me what you think of the show or what you
think of me for indulging in it. I simply want to use it as an example. So I
ask that no matter your opinion of either one please stick with me on this one.
I DO have a spiritual application to make.
Normally a tribe (team) that looses a challenge
goes to tribal council and votes off the weakest or most disliked person. This
sends them to “Redemption Island” where they dual the person who is already
there. The looser leaves the game permanently the winner stays on “Redemption
Island”. Eventually, the last man on “Redemption Island” will get to return to
the game of survivor. Watch the
following clip:
Ozzy has decided to sacrifice himself for his
tribe. Now please take this in the most general and generic sense as it is
given. Remember, these guys are playing for 1 million dollars and THAT is what
is on THEIR MINDS!
REDEMPTION: by definition-purchase back something
that is lost, by the payment of a ransom (Bible Gateway Dictionaries, 2010) .
For the purpose of the game SURVIVOR, the idea of
redemption is that the person who has been voted off can now “redeem”
himself/herself by winning dual(s) against others who have been voted off.
He/She will then show that he/she is worthy of returning to the game to fight
for a place at the end to possibly win the money. However, when Ozzy
“sacrificed” himself he put a new spin on things. Ozzy has now said to the rest
of his tribe (team), “I am willing to risk my ‘life’ for you as a team in order
to ‘save’ us all from certain doom.” This is where I went OH MY GOODNESS! This
guy has NO idea he has just given me a perfect example of what Jesus did for
ME!!!
If you don’t see it let me tell you! I’M LOVING
THIS!!!!
I went up to Jesus and said, “Jesus, look at me I
have all this sin in my life, it is horrible and black and keeps me separated
from God! I want to have a relationship with God, but God says he can’t even LOOK
at sin. What can I do?”
Jesus says, “Angie, you
can’t do anything! Nothing you will EVER do will be good enough. The only way
you can pay for your sins is by eternal death and separation from God.”
“Then who will pay for my sins, so I can have a
relationship with God?”
“I already have. Because I was 100% God
and 100% man I did! I was a man, who never sinned, I lived a perfect life, when
I died on the cross I paid for your sins. All the sins that you have committed,
or will ever commit were put on me on while I was on the cross. Then when I
rose the 3rd day I defeated sin and death! Now I sit at God’s right
hand. All you have to do is accept the gift of redemption that I am offering
you.”
Ozzy (though NOTHING like Jesus) offered to take
the place of the other tribe members so they did not have to be voted off. The
others took the offer. Jesus has already taken your place will you accept Him
into your heart, believe that He is your redemption and make Him Lord of your
life?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.
Living in Grace,
Angie
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