Messages from the Movies

Our series this month is Messages from the Movies. Each week we are going to use a contemporary movie to illustrate a concept, look at the theme from Scripture, delve into the idea and try to get a deeper understanding of it's meaning and then apply the principle to our life.

2014 movie Unbroken
Directed by Angelina Jolie
Based upon a book by the same title
The movie centers around the life of Louis Zamperini and his incredible life and World War II story of survival.
His plane went down in the ocean and when they finally found land it was a Japanese-held island referred to as Execution Island. There, Louie was tormented by a sadistic prison guard known as "The Bird."
Once Louie returned home he was haunted and terrorized by what he had endured. His life began to fall apart leading to him becoming an alcoholic and wrecking emotional havoc on those in his life.
In 1949 Louie attended one of Billy Graham's tent crusades where he heard Graham preach about the life and death of Jesus and how the Lord offered forgiveness and a new life. Louie responded and entrusted his life to Jesus. Over the next 64 1/2 years, Louie lived out his new life which was totally transformed by the forgiveness of God. After his conversion, Louie went back to his prison camps and witnessed about Christ and offered forgiveness to hundreds of former Japanese prison guards, many of whom had tortured him. He has also spoken about Jesus to millions of people.

The Bible has many stories that are similar to this one in that they teach the principle of forgiveness. The story of Joseph in the Old Testament book of Genesis is one example.
Genesis 37-50 deals with the story of Joseph.
Joseph was the object of jealousy by his brothers who desired to kill him.
Instead, they sold him to slave traders who took him to Egypt.
God's favor protected and provided for him and he was brought into a place of prominence in Pharaoh's court.
In time, the Joseph's family faced a famine and came to Egypt to buy food to survive. Unknown to them, their brother, Joseph was now the #2 person in the land and the guy in charge of dispensing supplies.
A whole series of events took place, but as we come to chapter 50, Joseph's family now resides in Egypt where his aged father has recently died. Following the burial, the brothers freak out as they worry about possible retaliation by Joseph.
Genesis 50:15-21

Forgiveness is the choice to no longer emotionally hold a sin or offense against someone. It involves our releasing bitter and resentful feelings, surrendering any desire to control, and abstaining from revengeful action.
Jesus taught us to forgive others.
Matthew 6:14-15 - our relationship with God is affected by our willingness to forgive others
Luke 15 - The Prodigal Son
Matthew 18 - Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
John 8 - Adulterous Woman
Luke 23:34 - Jesus' prayer on the cross

For a follower of Christ, forgiveness is an act of obedience, grace, and mercy stemming from the Lord's teachings and the example of His life.
Forgiving a person takes place in our heart and can happen whether a person is present or not, whether they have total awareness of what they have done or not, or even if the offender hasn't repented. Examples of this can be found in Luke 23:34 (Jesus on the Cross) and Acts 7:60 (Stephen praying for his executioners).

Forgiveness its core is about our relationship with God and our own spiritual growth and health.
Forgiveness is a sacrificial choice and is very tough to do.
Hebrews 12:15
Some recent examples of forgiveness are Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika and Tim Allen.

Today's message has dealt with a topic that virtually all of us struggle with. As a Christian, this is one of the key pieces that demonstrate the reality of our faith.
Forgiveness is hard, but if we don't, we live in rebellion against the Lord and in hostility with our fellow man.
Prayerfully consider writing the names of those you need to forgive on the movie ticket at your table. Ask the Lord to give you strength to forgive and then to live in that new reality.

Just before his death at the age of 97 1/2 years, Louie was interviewed at a large Christian Crusade. He read a letter that he had written to the man who had tormented him so.
The guard, known as "The Bird", hid for many years until the statute of time for his war crimes had expired. He then started up his life...but until his death, he remained unrepentant and unremorseful and refused to meet with Louie.