I rented the movie The Book of Eli, staring Denzel Washington, and found the movie to be rather deep in nature. The movie certainly aroused quite a few ideas in my head that I felt I needed to jot down. The brief section below is cut and pasted directly from IMBD.com, figured it would save my the hassle of regergitating anything.
In a violent post-apocalyptic society, the drifter Eli has been wandering to west across North America for the last thirty years reading a unique book that he brings with him. He survives hunting small animals and seeking goods in destroyed houses and vehicles to trade in villages for water and supplies. When he reaches the village ruled by the powerful mobster Carnegie, the man offers a job to Eli to join his gang. Carnegie presses his blind lover Claudia to send her daughter Solara to convince Eli spending the night with him. The girl sees the book of Eli, and when Carnegie beats up on Claudia, she reveals that Eli has the sought book. Carnegie sends his gang to take the book from Eli, but the man is up for protecting the book with his life. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ IMDB.com
Since the earth has fallen to ruins by this point, no electricity, running water, scarce food; reflecting 3rd world living conditions, this man, Carnegie, is determined to find "The Book". This special book is the Bible. Through dialogue it is reveal that a great war had taken place to destory all of the bibles, apparently one in particular had survived, which had come into the possession of Eli.
My First Point:
What if we all had the passion to seek God's word, as if it were literally our only hope for survival?
Carnegie runs his own town; obviously the most wealthy and powerful man in the movie. However, he recongizes a need for the Bible, and has a gang of goons that go around searching for this book; however they end up killing and even raping people in search of it. Carnegie sees the bible as a way of obtaining power, by essentially offering people hope, manipulating the Truth, in hopes of brainwashing people into being obedient to him. Many times people seek a relationship with God in hopes of obtaining power or influence over people; only the Holy Spirit has that kind of power, not you, so get over it.
It just makes me question how fervently we truly seek to know God. These people who had nothing were in constant search of him, while the one man that had the knowledge, knew him, guarded it with his life. Eli later comes to realize that by him guarding the Truth with all his heart and life, that he failed to share it with others. God in Genesis, before there was sin, recongized that it was not good for man to be alone, even God created us for fellowship with him. So whether you are looking to misuse your Faith, or not share it at all, it still falls on the same line of injustice.
Point #2
God uses our weaknesses, as well as the unexpected, for his plan.
So Eli is guarding this book, has been for 30 years now. Towards the end of the movie in an effort to save a young woman's life, he reveals the location of the book, only to be shot afterwards (yet he lives). Eli's calling was to take this book and travel westward out of faith, to reach Alcatraz and relinquish it there.
When Carnegie gets home with the book and has his locksmith open it, he finds himself in complete shock. The book is in braille. It turns out that Eli can't even read! But God saw that there would be a book, designed specifically for what Eli could do, to perserve the Truth, hidden in a way that no one else would recongize or understand! So no matter what your weakness are, God designed those weakness to later bring him Glory, that I promise you!
Point # 3
Understanding God takes the Holy Spirit
When our hearts are not filled with the Holy Spirit, we might as well be trying to read braille when we open up his word. The words of truth and wisdom are not understood by those that do not pray for wisdom and discernment of the Holy Spirit. I think this also eludes to how God protects his reputation from being ruined by others. Obviously Satan loves to distort and manipulate the word, but that is only darkness; and when penetrated by the truth, the light, it is quickly revealed.
There are a few other things in the movie that I really liked as well. Apparently the Earth is found in it's present state because of a blast, a light that overwhelmed the earth, blinding some; now everyone has to wear goggles or protective shades (apparently a hole in the ozone layer allows too much light in). I see this from two perspectives; 1) We were never meant to witness God's glory and light in it's fullness on this earth because neither our mind, or eyes, could understand and fully comprehend it without some kind of consequence. or, 2nd) These people had seen the truth, become so sensitive to the light (truth), that they chose to wear goggles to prevent them from experiencing the truest conviction and love of God. Often we try to water God down, make him more loving, but less convicting. You can't have one without the other; it's through his conviction that we see his truest love for us shine. When we view God through tinted shades, we miss the brilliance of who he is, as if we are afraid to admit that God is as awesome as he says he is.
I'll call it quits for tonight, but I'm sure I will be posting further in regards to the movie. It was a good movie, not great, but I saw a lot of spiritual insight that makes me want to grow in my faith, being challenged.
God Bless!
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