I went to see Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One the other day. The special effects and stunts were entertaining, but what struck me was the message of a film that isn't advertised for a Christian audience: the fight between good and evil.

Isaiah 5:20 – Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. (NIV)

The main villain, ironically named Gabriel, speaks as if he knows the future and believes that he is all powerful. He believes that death is a gift, and he kills whenever it suits his evil plans. In the movie, one of the United States government officials, when confronted about his actions, states, "This is our chance to control the truth — the concepts of right and wrong for everyone for centuries to come."

Proverbs 4:27 – Do not swerve to the right or to the left; keep your foot from evil. (NIV)

Ethan Hunt, the protagonist, and the Impossible Mission Force are on a mission to defeat Gabriel and his evil and seemingly all-powerful artificial intelligence, Entity. They persevere, despite repeated setbacks, loss of life, and betrayal by the government officials who supposedly are on their side. We would do well to emulate the perseverance of Hunt and the Force.

Another of the movie's recurring themes is the nature of truth. Ilsa says, "The world is changing. The truth is vanishing." The assumption is that lies will eventually force the truth into extinction. But Jesus said, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32 NIV)

Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One leaves us hanging at the end. The villain escapes and Ethan Hunt must continue his quest to destroy the evil forces. But as Paul Harvey used to say, we know "the rest of the story". Praise God! The evil forces will be conquered and "the Lord himself will come down from heaven … and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NIV)

Ephesians 6:10b-12 – God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no weekend war that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. (MSG)

In the meantime, what are we doing to fight the forces of evil? How much are we willing to commit to our mission on earth? Are we using "everything the Master has set out for us" — those "well-made weapons"? Satan was defeated when Jesus died on the cross and rose again, but just as Ethan Hunt must continue his quest to destroy the evil forces, so we must continue to battle the devil and his minions in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Lord, the world increasingly seems to value evil over good, to celebrate everything that goes against Your commandments and Your will for us. Give us the strength and courage to enter this fight and stand up to the devil that we may be true witnesses for You. Amen.

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Sharon Cook <craftercook@gmail.com>
Apache Junction, Arizona, USA
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