Something Greater

I think I should say that I do not plan on this being any type of entertainment blog.  I don’t watch that many movies, can’t name more than a handful of actors and actresses, and generally have a hard time doing more than simply enjoying the basic story.  However, Beka received free movie tickets from a student in her class this year and we thought it’d be fun to spend a night together at the movies, so…off we went.

We debated for a bit what movie we would see and eventually settled on ‘Green Lantern’.  Beka was interested and although I can’t stand Ryan Reynolds (so much so that I actually DO know his name!) we had been told by a couple college students that it was actually a pretty good movie (they were right…it really wasn’t bad).

Long story short, Reynolds’ character in the movie becomes part of the Green Lantern Corps, an intergalactic police force.  It’s his involvement as part of the Green Lantern Corps that got me thinking this evening and brought me here to share with you.

Despite my lack of any real or prior interest in this particular story, I found myself being drawn toward an aspect of the story line.  The Green Lantern Corps is comprised of men and women who were chosen by magical rings to provide peace keeping services in the galaxy.  These individuals give up their normal lives in exchange for a life of service for the benefit of the greater good.  United together these ‘super heros’ make a tangible difference in the world around them as they exert their ring’s supernatural abilities in a greater way than the powers of evil that they encounter.  This commitment and dedication was inspiring to watch.

Within each of our souls, God has placed the desire for something greater and this storyline tugs at that desire.  We were created for more than to simply fulfill our own interests and desires while we live out our days on this planet.  God designed us to strive together for a common purpose.

Philippians 1:27 says, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,”

What an amazing and truly soul-satisfying call on each of our lives!  God commands that we conduct ourselves as those worthy of the gospel of Christ.  Together we are called to commit to this great cause and begin to strive forward together for that same gospel.  My heart was inspired through the movie tonight because God has redeemed me to be a person who’s life is committed to that worthy calling.  God’s designed each of us to live sacrificially, to serve faithfully, to combat evil, and to improve the lives of people around us as we share the message of Jesus Christ with them.

We are designed and redeemed to fulfill God’s gigantic sovereign plan for history – to glorify Him as He uses us to spread the gospel to all corners of this world.  This is what we’re created for and it’s why ‘heros’ are inspirational!  We’re truly satisfied, not with the pleasure of this world, but when we are actively engaged in serving our Lord, because God has truly designed each of us for something greater.