It all started in 1996 with the first "Mission Impossible" movie by Tom Cruise that sparked a whole movie franchise. I always fondly remember the movie's premise. Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) would play the main protagonist as an undercover agent. Everything started out fine, yet as one thing led to another Hunt would be faced with a mission. The mission is simple, a recording or some entity would inform Hunt off the parameters and objectives towards the mission. Then Hunt would have a short time if should he choose to accept it. Hunt would then verify how difficult it was when he needed to start those missions. In one scene from the second movie, Mission Commander Swanbeck affirms this:
Well Mr Hunt, this is Mission Impossible, not mission difficult. Difficult should be a walk in the park for you.
In the movies, Hunt would be in an improbable situation. Fighting off his own organizations, saving the world in 24 hours, overcoming poisons, defeating impossible villains, etc. Before the final fight, he would undergo what's called a hero's journey. Where the biggest obstacle to overcome is not the actual mission. But the inner fight between himself. His fear & apprehension can soon become his first ransom to overcome. To save the world, he needed to first overcome himself.
Last night, I dreamt off being in a ransom situation. I was trapped and taken hostage. It was in a very dire situation, I couldn't escape. I remember looking around and seeing someone cry in tears for me. Then the dream abruptly ends. I quickly prayed as I am half awake. I wondered what I needed to write today.. what was the connection between all this?
Well, let's take it with a grain of salt. Dreams aren't always supposed to be taken literally. Just like how Jacob's dreams off a ladder, to Joseph's dream of the sun, moon and stars; dreams historically are symbolic. Yet what's most important is to find the factual source or Scripture as to what God says. So what does the Bible say about ransom?
The word ransom means "obtain the release of (a prisoner) by making a payment demanded."(Oxford Dictionary). Being in ransom meant being in a vulnerable position where we are stuck in our own "prison" and only after payment may we set free. An example would be in Jacob's life:
For the Lord has ransomed Jacob
and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. Jeremiah 31:11 😱
So what is ransomed here? If we looked at Jacob's life, he was in many unfavorable positions. Jacob ran from Esau, Jacob ran away from his hometown, he was a man at the mercy of his surroundings. Jacob even wrestled with God😰, and yet miraculously the Lord saved Jacob and blessed him after. The Lord redeemed Jacob from his enemies and from himself. So where does that leave us today?
Well, in my previous life I too was ransomed. In a world where my flesh would reign aboundingly. This is what Paul in Romans would describe as the "natural" man. We are born into this world that is dominated by satan and sin:
We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 1 John 5:19 🌍👿
When I look at media, social norms, even culture as an entity, you would be surprised by the devil's ploy in influencing our thoughts with subliminal messages. How we live in a moral relativist culture that says everything is okay, that there is no such thing as absolute truth. Or how social stigma dictates that as more people would agree that homosexuality is accepted and that it should be legalized. Since when was truth a collectivist agreement? Hmm.🤔
In this fallen world, what is our natural response?
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 🖤
In my previous life, this verse rings so true. There have been so many times I would have "repented" but the distractions of this world blinded me. There have been times I hardened my own heart to try to reject the prevailing Gospel message. There have been times even now that I ignore the 'right way'. I think too myself, hey, another 15 minutes of Youtube won't hurt. Hey, sleeping another 20 minutes won't mean much. And yet even then I keep falling into my 'sins' unable to resist.
So what to do about all this? Are we really able to save ourselves?
Most conventional psychologists and even experts would always say to try to find other "alternatives" or change the addictions we have. That's like saying to Hunt to negotiate with his captives. Or trying to avoid the mission at hand. No amount of negotiating, or circumventing will work. It just delays the inevitable that we really can't save ourselves. Because at the end off the day we still waste time, make sins, and even fail the mission.
And yet, as in any great Mission Impossible movies, the main character receives unexpected 'help' that inadvertently changes the tides. Allies would come in at the right moment helping Hunt overcome the most unexpected challenges.. Sometimes when I think about life, there have been so many timely 'allies' or friends. Yet my greatest "ally" would undoubtedly be Jesus Christ. Who was in fact a ransom for many:
even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 ✝️
Without Jesus acting as a 'ransom' off our sins and judgment. Without Jesus dying on the Cross and resurrecting on the third day, I would still be "chained" and ransomed in my previous life. And yet from yesterday's dream, I learnt that the Gospel message does not end when I became a Christian. The message that we are sinful. That we are unable to overcome ourselves and our sins. That only Jesus is our propitiation. Our Lord and Savior. It is not a one-off thing. The Gospel is a recurring message for our whole lives. In perpetuity.
Reflection
The main idea of this post is "a ransomed life". Because even today we are living a ransomed life. The playing field is not easy, it's barren, dangerous, and uncertain. The mission is clear, should we choose to accept it. To try to save as many lives as we can and to trust in the Lord's providence. To share the Gospel message and make disciples to the ends of the earth. To glorify God in our lives and to redirect this fallen generation back to Christ. In a way, we are all ransomed like how Hunt was trapped in his own fears & apprehension. To how Jacob was 'ransomed' by his shortcomings in needing to deceive and escape. Yet the greatest "ransom" came in Jesus Christ, who chose to give His life as the greatest sacrifice, to serve us... when I look back, thank You Jesus. For giving me grace that I never deserved. Only through Christ is the impossible possible...
Dear Lord, thank You for this "ransomed life". Today as I learn how the world is controlled by the evil one, we are at odds with mostly everyone. It is a uphill fight that reminds us off how we were once ransomed, but now ransomed and free. We have a mission to do the Impossible. The paradox off it all is that we are ransomed not ransomed.
Thank You for the dreams, and for the wisdom after reading Jeremiah 26. In which You continually remind Judah to return from their 'ransomed' state:
Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you. Jeremiah 26:13 ☑️
Please now Lord, forgive me and rebuke my sins. I have wronged You, and please help me turn back. Again. And again. And again. Help me to make even more mission impossible movies until the end of my life. And help me to respond correctly in rebuke just like Hezekiah did:
Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD, and did not the LORD relent of the disaster that he had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great disaster upon ourselves." Jeremiah 26:19 💥
As Micah rebuked Hezekiah to repent, so do You Lord rebuke us constantly. Give us open ears and hearts to fear the LORD once more, and to supplicate, to plead and crawl back into Your favor. Because You keep reminding us off the great disaster that ensues our fleshly desires. Help us to return to the Gospel always and ally us in our mission impossible. To forego sin.. and give no opportunity to the devil. Ephesians 4:27. All for Your glory. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 2:17
Updated on:
February 12, 2021 | June 21, 2021
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Credits:
Ethan Hunt Mission:Impossible Fallout 📷 The IndianEXPRESS
Allies Mission:Impossible Fallout 📷Complex
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