Hollywood, Noah and the "Year of the Bible."
Well, this is a strange turn of events. A mainline media outlet is declaring this year as the 'Year of the Bible.' The first of the movies about Bible people has just been released. It's a movie about Noah. It has blockbuster stars and no doubt will be presented excellently but not accurately. Remember, it's Hollywood. You 'gotta' chew up with meat and spit out the bones.
You remember Noah, don't you? Noah was the guy who built an ark because God was going to send a flood. It was because humankind was exceedingly wicked at that time. The building the ark was a gigantic undertaking for Noah. His neighbors tried to discourage him from building the ark. When the flood came, it rained for forty days and nights. He escaped with his family and pairs of animals of every kind. When the rain stopped and the flood receded, Noah, his family and the animals were the only ones left on the earth.
If you want to learn more about Noah, read Genesis, chapters six through nine in the Bible. It's interesting that every major culture has the story of a huge flood that took place in times past.
Why is Noah significant at this time? Well, first of all, there are some practical lessons that can be learned from Noah. On the lighter side, MyBible.com published a poster entitled, "Everything I need to know about life, I learned from Noah's Ark." Here are the lessons:
1. Don't miss the boat. 2. Remember that we are all in the same boat. 3. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark. 4. Stay fit. When you're really old, someone may ask you to do something really big. 5. Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done. 6. Build your future on high ground. 7. For safety sake, travel in pairs. 8. Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs. 9. When you're stressed, float a while. 10. Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals. 11. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting. Aha!
I do appreciate the fact that Hollywood is beginning to take notice of the Bible, for whatever the reasons. God can work with that. It brings awareness to those outside of the church, many of which have never even heard of Noah.
Perhaps there is something more here than just a movie on Noah. Could God be bringing Noah to our attention at this time in history? Jesus said it this way. "For the (second) coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be." Matthew 24:37-39. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you.
As Easter gets closer, remember this. Just like God prepared in ark for Noah and his family that saved them, God has prepared an ark for us. All aboard and bring a friend. Read John 11:25-26.
Ed Delph March 31, 2014 CCC
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