This talk was delivered at a Youth club in Sunderland - May '08
Outweighed - King Arthur and eternal glory!
What is it that keeps Christians following Jesus in a society that thinks to do so is at best nice but unnecessary, and at worst ridiculous or even harmful?
What is it that keeps Christians following Jesus in a world where bad things happen on a huge scale such as in Burma and China in the last week or so, and where it looks from a human perspective as though God doesn't care or is helpless?
These are questions that, if you are not a Christian you have probably asked, but in your own words. These are also questions that you probably ask of yourself if you are a Christian, and people will certainly be asking about you as the watch you.
And they are not easy questions.
In the Bible, Paul wrote these words.
'We know that the one who raised Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus' 2 Cor 4:14
Ever thought about what power was at work when 2000 years ago the lifeless, empty and crushed body of Jesus was given life again. Lungs that had not taken in air for 3 days breathed again. A heart that had not beaten for 3 days, had been stabbed with a sword and bled out pulsed again. Muscles left lifeless moved. Well, Paul says that for Christians, the power that did that is at work in us so that whatever this life throws at us we will live.
Paul goes on -
'Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us and eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.' 2 Cor 4:16-18
In the film 'King Arthur' these themes are to the fore. Arthur and his Knights have finished their last battle and are looking forward to freedom in their home - 'over the mountains'. They have fought for Rome for years risked life and limb, and lost many friends. but they have endured because of the glory that awaits them.
This is thrown into stark contrast when they are challenged to one final mission. It is interesting to watch what it is that convinces the knights to take the mission.
Watch video clip - King Arthur (Directors Cut) - 0:27:12 - 0:33:49
Arthur and his men have fought for freedom. Freedom from bloodshed, freedom from the trauma's and trials they have been living. They should receive what has rightly been given to them. Freedom.
But that freedom must wait. Because them must fight for freedom for others first - the Roman family North of the wall. They know where they would rather be, but they have a duty to fight for other Romans.
Some, like Lancelot don't believe the free world exists. He tells Arthur 'you fight for a world that will never exist, it will always be a battlefield.' But Arthur and his Knights have their eyes fixed on what is to come, event though it is now temporary - and it keeps them going.
And that is exactly what Paul means when he says we 'fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen' Heaven, permanent freedom from sin and suffering, with the freedom giver - God, forever. It is this that keeps us fighting in this world. Fighting for what is good and right - keeping on following Jesus.
And it is not just wishful thinking. It is hidden - yes, for now. But it is real and permanent. We just have to take God at his word. Up for it?