The God Who Pursues

"He is not here; He is risen!”  - Matthew 28:6  

    I am not often led to write about movies that I have seen; nor does it seem ‘normal’ to merely write a movie review for the monthly newsletter, but two faith based movies we have recently seen, captured my attention through their message. I am always cautiously optimistic when I hear of Christian movies being released because they are often poorly done, which can include being poorly scripted, poorly directed and the message being poorly presented. I was pleasantly surprised by two movies we at DCPC viewed; one in an outing to the local theater and one here in church. Both lacked the “simple” easy answer messages that I had feared. Neither movie glossed over the “hard stuff” or the controversial issues that are always present. Both were well written and well acted.

   The first, called The Jesus Revolution, out in theaters, covered the phenomena of “the Jesus People” of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s which started in California. It covered a genuine spiritual Christ-based awakening, emerging for the least expected group of people. These “hippies” were a bunch who it would seem, would never be interested in Christianity. Two separate scenes juxtaposed against one another captures how God pursues the lost.  One scene covered the April 8, 1966 Time Magazine asking “Is God Dead?” The other was a 1972 Time Magazine cover series featuring the Jesus Movement story boldly answering that question - NO, God is NOT dead! The reason: because the Jesus revolution had become so powerful in and about the nation. So from the ashes of the hippie culture, we see Christ come alive.

   The second, called “The Most Reluctant Convert” was a reflection on the life of C.S. Lewis. An actor portraying Lewis narrated the great author’s young life, questioning the presence and the absence of God.

   Seeing two movies, covering two issues, and two very different (or were they very similar?) time periods, I asked myself: ‘was there a common theme, a common idea and a common faith based lesson we can learn?’ And what is the Lenten lesson we are called to, as we prepare ourselves to go with Christ to the cross and walk with him after his resurrection? Clearly it is the story of God’s love through Jesus Christ; a God that pursues His creation that has gone astray.

   At the tomb, with fear and hope, they wonder at the event and the message that the angel conveys. Those emotions, hope and wonder, remain the same to this day of the event we celebrate known as Easter. Like them, we too ask: ‘Where is Jesus?’ And the answer is as Matthew writes in the gospel: “He is not here. He is risen.” In their day, Jesus had gone ahead, he would eventually meet up with the disciples in Galilee; Jesus had gone ahead. But what about our day? What are people looking for in Jesus beyond the empty tomb? Or perhaps the question simply remains, ‘Where is Jesus?’ But we forget or don’t see that Jesus is often saying, ‘Where are you? I’m looking and searching for you!” We don’t realize that HE is pursuing us! He wants you to be his own, he wants you to walk with him and he wants you to call him, Lord and Savior. When Easter is over the question we often ask is not only of purpose but also of destination. Where are you going? Jesus only asks you to come on the journey with Him.

                                               He Is Risen!

                                                                     Yours in Christ,

                                                                                Pastor Harry