The battle of good versus evil is the central theme of so many films and books. Have you ever asked yourself why? Is it just a fanciful literary notion or is it so pervasive because it actually rings true in the world we live in?
I’ve always loved the fact that Harry Potter reminds me of the reality of the battle I live in, because I forgot far too easily. The battle throughout the Harry Potter series - but especially in Deathly Hallows - is undeniably real. People are injured, people die. It really begins with Cedric Diggory for whom we have limited affection, but the losses quickly become more personal and powerful – Sirius, Dumbledore, Dobby, Lupin, Tonks, Fred.
I was terrified before reading Deathly Hallows about how many of my favourite characters would be killed. JK Rowling had hinted that there would be many deaths and said that one in particular had reduced her to a sobbing wreck. I was so convinced that it would be Harry, Hermione, Ron or Ginny and should have been relieved to discover it was Dobby, but was shocked to find myself balling my eyes out as well! The death of such a small innocent thing, who had rescued them at a very low point, made it seem all the more painful.
And his death, like all of them, is painful but Voldemort doesn’t care. Similarly humans have a very real enemy who wants to steal and kill and destroy. It’s so easy not to believe that or dismiss it because our comfortable existences cushion us from it and our physical existences can cause us to doubt the notion of a supernatural spiritual realm.
In films and books the battle is often a fairly straightforward one between the goodie and the baddie. Although the Christian battle of good versus evil is God versus the devil, it doesn’t play out in Hollywood style. Our battle is against spiritual forces not flesh and blood - although it can manifest itself in that way. At the beginning of “Half-Blood Prince” Dumbledore declares that they are “in a state of open warfare” whereas the Christian battle is a lot less obvious, unless you know what you’re looking for!
The Bible doesn’t tell us to get out there and pick a fight with the forces of evil. Surprisingly for a battle situation we’re mainly commanded simply to “stand” against the assaults that inevitably come to us – “take your stand against the devil’s schemes”, “stand your ground” and “stand firm then.” To go out actively looking for trouble is always foolhardy and dangerous. Ephesians 6 tells us that Christians have a full complement of armour to put on to enable us to stand against the onslaught. We’re not motionless, just a punchbag taking the knocks that come our way though. We have to actively resist…
In a way this is what Harry does in his final stand-off with Voldemort. Throughout the books I’d always wondered how Harry was going to defeat Voldemort without stooping to his level by using one of the Unforgivable Curses. It just wouldn’t have been true to who he was. The spell he ultimately uses to beat him is a defensive disarming one, which causes Voldemort’s killing curse to rebound on him (with a little help from a clever but slightly convoluted issue about the transfer of wand loyalty!!!)
The only weapon in our armour is the sword of the Spirit (aka the Bible), which enables us to know the truth and resist the lies that the enemy throws at us. Being realistic though, it doesn’t sound quite as exciting as duelling with wands and shooting spells every which way, does it?
However, real battle isn’t supposed to be exciting, even if Hollywood portrays it that way! It’s difficult, costly, tiring and results in a lot of injuries and deaths. While the battle in Deathly Hallows can seem quite thrilling to us, those actually in it aren’t finding it half so entertaining (with the occasional exception of Neville, lol!).
And all our defensive “standing” doesn’t stop it being dramatic and exciting at times too! The Bible tells us that the battle is the Lord’s and the outworking of that is seriously awesome :-) God’s way of doing things is always much better than ours! One example of this out of many in the Old Testament is when Jehosophat and the people of Judah are being threatened by a vast army (2 Chronicles 20). They call out to God for help and He replies, telling them to march up against the army but not to fight. Instead they’re to “take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.” So off they go, singing and praising God, and when they get to their positions and look “towards the vast army, they [see] only dead bodies lying on the ground.” What?!! To say they were completely gobsmacked would be a major understatement! God had caused the three armies to rise up against each other and “no one had escaped”. And it took them 3 days to collect up all the plunder! God fought the battle for them because they’d trusted Him and done it His way.
The final battle in Harry Potter is exhausting, with one attack after another. Perseverance is essential, along with a constant reminder of why they are there, why they are fighting. If they stop or give up then evil will triumph. I can often feel overwhelmed when I remember the battle I’m in and wish I could hide or forget about it, but like Harry and his friends, Christians have to keep fighting to the end. Only with God’s ultimate victory over Satan at the end of time will there be true peace where God “will wipe every tear from [our] eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Rev 21:4) Hallelujah!!
No comments:
Post a Comment