An interesting question presented itself in my head tonight during Men’s study. I’ve talked a lot this past summer about how I want to fight and be a part of God’s army, how I want to take my stand against the devil’s schemes. I don’t think I ever talked about (or even thought about, for that matter) why. Why should I fight, why not just give up?
Interesting enough, I think the answer to that question can be found in the movie Braveheart. I saw it for the first time to night, very good movie. The answer, freedom.
In the movie, Wallace takes a stand against the king of England. The king offers all kinds of good things (land, titles, etc) if the Scottish will surrender, in the name of peace. It’s a though and Wallace knows it. He knows that if they surrender, the king of England will indeed give them these nice sounding things, but they are bound to the king. Slaves.
Princess Isabelle: The king desires peace.
William Wallace: Longshanks desires peace?
Princess Isabelle: He declares it to me, I swear it. He proposes that you withdraw your attack. In return he grants you title, estates, and this chest of gold which I am to pay to you personally.
William Wallace: A lordship and titles. Gold. That I should become Judas?
Princess Isabelle: Peace is made in such ways.
William Wallace: Slaves are made in such ways. The last time Longshanks spoke of peace I was a boy. And many Scottish nobles, who would not be slaves, were lured by him under a flag of truce to a barn, where he had them hanged. I was very young, but I remember Longshanks’ notion of peace.
It’s the same thing. It’s a trick. If we don’t take our stand against the devil, we, in essence, become slaves to him. Trust me, I’ve been there. Those times when I gave up in the middle of a battle because I didn’t want to fight. I gave up control of my body.
But Christ offers us something different. He offers Freedom, true freedom. So why fight for Christ, freedom. Many (well, at least one) have said that the greatest line in the film is:
Every man dies, not every man really lives.
And it makes sense. There isn’t much life in the life slave, just existing. But in Freedom, life flows in abundance. I encourage you to stand, fight for what you believe in. Let us stand together in Unity, one in mind and one in spirit. Since the best line from the film is already taken, I leave you the second best (as I see it):
Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it.