Sometimes we need to stop and ask ourselves, what it is that we believe?
Over the long Labor Day weekend, Charter Communications, my cable provider was kind enough to run some awesome movies which allowed my family to do a little vegging out in front of the television. One of the movies we watched was, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade; that’s the one where Sean Connery plays Dr. Jones’ father and they are looking for the Holy Grail, which is the cup that Jesus drank out of during the Last Supper.
In the final part of the movie, they have located the grail in an intricate building/cave that has been carved into a mountain. The bad guys have already sent in three men to go forward and all have literally lost their heads. The lead bad guy tells Indiana to go and get it. He refuses. He then shoots Sean Connery who falls to the floor, bleeding to death. He reminds Indiana that the cup is supposed to offer eternal life and he has to go and get it to save his father.
As Indiana stands there trying to decide what to do, the man says, “It’s time to ask yourself, Dr. Jones, what is it that you believe?”
Of course Indiana takes the challenge and retrieves the cup and saves his dad. But, this movie really got me to thinking about that statement, “It’s time to ask yourself what is it that you believe?” That’s a good question to ponder from time to time and often a loaded one. Our beliefs sometimes change as we grow older and hopefully wiser.
Hopefully, as we grow older, we learn that the need to always be right can be destructive, just as never admitting we are wrong can be. The failure to repent can be very detrimental to our souls. Indiana’s first task when he set out to find the grail, was to figure out how, “only the penitent man could pass.” The first three who tried lost their heads.
Think about it, what position is the penitent man in? He’s on his knees. What is he doing on his knees? He’s praying for forgiveness. Then he prays for guidance and direction. I think perhaps we need more penitent men, (and women) in our world today. If we never admit we are wrong, how can we be granted forgiveness? If we don’t feel forgiven, then how can we journey on in faith?
Indiana’s next challenge was, “stepping out in faith.” He stood at the edge of a huge drop off. There was nothing between where he was and where he needed to be. To step off, would mean certain death. He could hear his father’s words as he stepped out in faith. A bridge appeared. It was there all along, but he couldn’t see it until he took the step. Isn’t that a beautiful illustration of faith? We can’t see how God will provide, but we take the step anyway, knowing that He will.
I think that perhaps if we want to really grow our faith, we need to be sure that we are truly penitent. We need to be sure that our prayers don’t look like a Christmas letter to Santa Clause. We need to be sure we sound more like the prayer Jesus taught us, “thy will be done, forgive us as we forgive others” (that one will make you cringe). Maybe we should be asking for our “daily bread” and not for a ton of material possessions and simply asking for, “deliverance from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9-13
Of course our prayers are going to be longer and more personal, but I think the Lord’s Prayer is a good template. I think regularly admitting our sins to God is vital to our faith walk. I think maybe we need to be more penitent. Maybe we should ask ourselves what it is that we believe and then try to live it. What do you think?
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂