It is a typical Hollywood story: the hero sacrifices himself (or if you are an Avengers fan, herself) to save others. If it was a good movie, Morgan Freeman will narrate the good that came from it.
We understand someone giving their life for a child, for instance… it is sensible… sad but we can understand it. And we can cry for the hero who takes a bullet for a loved one.
But it needs to make sense in the storyline. This is a problem that is starting to show up more and more these days. AI, and Self Driving cars, for instance, needs to be taught: “what is harm”? What has Value?
If a self-driving car malfunction and is going to crash, and its options are to hit three senior citizens or one young child… which path should it choose? Or simpler: We program AI’s to “first: do no harm” – how will they be able to do surgery, where the mere act of using a scalpel causes harm? never-mind something as complicated as triage…
Now think of this movie scenario: It is the end of the movie: The hero needs to choose, and he chooses the bad guy!
What the actual fudge?
Long before Hollywood, Nollywood and Bollywood, Paul asks this question to the Romans:
“…Now, would anyone dare to die for the sake of a wicked person? We can all understand if someone was willing to die for a truly noble person…”
(Romans 5:7, TPT)
But this is not what Jesus did…
“…But Christ proved God’s passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly!”
(Romans 5:8, TPT)
As much as I hate to admit it, I am the very last person that should be saved. When the dinosaurs break free, I should be first to be eaten. It will be no great loss. If It was a Star Trek movie, I’d wear a red shirt. Frankly, a sniper should just take me out in the opening credits so that I can at least have the value of setting the scene before I do something fundamentally harmful.
When, in the darkest moment you are reminded of every mistake you’ve made. Every foolish choice, every incompetent decision… When the darkness creeps in from the side of you vision, and your total worthlessness is a vivid and burning image in your head and you just want to close your eyes and die. You can cry out to God, because…
“…For through the blood of Jesus we have heard the powerful declaration, “You are now righteous in my sight.” And because of the sacrifice of Jesus, you will never experience the wrath of God…”
But that is not the important part.
Go Figure… Being saved from eternal damnation is just a side issue.
My second and eternal chance comes through Jesus’s choice to die for the bad guy. But more so, the chance at a deep and meaningful relationship with God. I am not all of a sudden perfect, I have not received Solomon’s wisdom, but I do have the chance to walk with God every day. I am still the bruised banana of the bunch but I have purpose and maybe today God will use me to feed someone…
…and if nothing else, I can just sit with God for a while… humming:
Amazing Grace,
How sweet the sound…
That saved a wretch like me…
“…And even more than that, we overflow with triumphant joy in our new relationship of living reconciled to God—all because of Jesus Christ!”
(Romans 5:11, TPT)
