I must be the last person in the country to have caught onto the whole "heroes" phenomenon, but finally I can say now that I'm hooked. There is without doubt some of the most profound truths to be found within the dialogue of "heroes", a program which so beautifully has captured what can only be described as a physical and spiritual renaissance. The awakening of the protagonists as to their abilities and the knowledge of how to use them effectively and responsibly must strike a very strong chord within us as a grace community. The most formative time in the process of the three phases seems to be upon us , the 'teenage phase' as Mr Walsh would define it. It's the time we begin to move in the power of the indwelling Christ, experimenting as to the limitations of the power within us, much in the same the "heroes" are beginning to understand the function and purpose of their individual powers. The parallels that can be drawn between our own lives and the events unfolding on the screen in front of are is amazing.
Listening to the conversations of people as they discuss which character they feel they identify with is interesting, as it is undeniable that we all see ourselves in relation to one of the "heroes". It was quite amusing the first time I discussed my own particular feelings of identification. I was sitting in a dark room watching "heroes" with a very good friend when I turned to him and said:
" Yeah you know I think it's Jessica I identify most strongly with ".
My friend looked at me with a confused look and started to chuckle. You gotta appreciate the scene, Jessica had just hacked 3 people to death in a murderous frenzy. Not the thing you wanna think is potentially possible of the person sitting to your left in a pitch black house on a quiet Sunday evening. I'm not sure what my friend was thinking to be honest with you , lol.
However, still to this day it is the character of Jessica/Nikki that I feel the strongest affinity with. The struggle that this young woman is facing is frightening real to me. Nikki's own life expereince, combined with the tragic loss of her twin sister in early childhood has left her in a schitzophrenic nightmare of almost Tolkenian proportions. In some way the spirit of her sister Jessica was infused into her being taking on the role of her protector. It is Jessica who takes control when there is a possible threat, or when there is a need for strength. However, Jessica's morals are questionable to say the least, and murder, torture and extorsion seem to be no real problem for her. She is the antithesis to Nikki, which seems often to be the way for the extremist. My own personal testimony could not be any further removed from where I am at these days, but I am conscious of a darker influence(I'm not attributing the blame at Satan's door, which is not to say that he hasn't a part in this). I feel so aware of an old flesh pattern that would seek to hijack my life. The choice that grace brings with it is of particular interest to this dead man that is following me about! Knowing the freedom that we have in Christ , knowing that love holds no record of wrongs. Knowing that love percieves no evil, it is music to the ears of the drunken driver who would seek to jump behind the wheel of my life and drive me headlong into a wall at 150mph. However, we all face the same struggle in regards to the flesh which would seek to live a life of self justifying righteousness.
Nikki has to learn the lesson of control. It was only when I left teen challenge that I realized how much of the security I felt was infact institutional dependence. Suddenly I found myself facing some very real temptations, it was only then that I realized how real this walk of true faith is. The question that we all have to answer is why are we doing what we are doing. Are we seeking to walk in a way that will keep us just before God, are we seeking to keep ourselves right? This is the place of Jessica in our lives, we develop ways of protecting ourselves rather than allowing Jesus to be our champion. Suddenly when we face the darkness that would seek to envelop us we are faced with the choice, do we :
a) allow the old self seeking and often violent and sinful nature to take control of the situation, with disasterous consequences ,or
b) do we face the mountain in our path and speak the word of faith? Standing vulnerable to the eye of the flesh, but victorious to the single eye of faith, secure in the knowledge that we are the fulfillment of God's grand plan of creation.
We must learn that the lie of the flesh is the belief that in some way only it can do what needs to be done. Only jessica has the strength to face the danger, it's a lie! Nikki, like us must learn the lesson that the strength of Jessica is only a shadow of the strength that she herself possesses. What does the scripture say?
'No eye has seen, no ear has heard what God has prepared for those who love Him in Christ Jesus'.
It's all a question of focus, the motivation. Jesus said "if you love me you'll keep my commandments". It was not duty that took Jesus to calvary, it was love. Fixing His eyes on the joy that lay ahead, despising the shame. It's about possessing our possessions. We have been given all things, Paul writes in Corinthian's that all things in the universe have been given to us, if you owned a brand new porsche wouldn't you wanna drive it......FAST?
It's the same conclusion I have come to recently, if I love with the love of God, if I have the faith of God, I overcome anything and everything. If I use that which has been given to me through faith, which is the life of the justified! The Just shall live by his faith, it doesn't say the faithful shall be made just, no it says the just shall live by his faith. This concept is the underpining reality of the new covenant. Infact three books in the new testament are dedicated to this statement. The just (romans) shall live (galatians) by his faith(hebrews). It's not a question of achieving only receiving. This is who we already are, believe it! We are the sons of God, and whether you a son of God, or The Son of God the truth remains constant.
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