In Search Of Truth

Looking At Truth In "Spirit Blade: Chapter 4"

During his intense battle with the Nephilim, Vincent says something unusual. "The battle belongs to Yeisou."

Even though Vincent is in the thick of things, he makes every effort to remember that ultimately he is not the one who will determine the outcome of his conflict. This line in the script was motivated by a theme that can be found in the Bible:

Psalm 3:8- Victory comes from you, O Lord. May your blessings rest on your people.

Psalm 62:11- God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you;

1 Samuel 17:47- And everyone will know that the Lord does not need weapons to rescue his people. It is his battle, not ours. The Lord will give you to us!

2 Chronicles 20:15- He said, "Listen, King Jehoshaphat! Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's.

The Dark One uses a combination of lies and truth to appeal to Merikk. He truthfully states that, in Merikk's current condition, the Dark One is his father. (Jesus says something similar in John 8:39-47) He also tells Merikk that he wants him to be comfortable. If it's true that Satan wants us to feel comfortable with his agenda and way of living, we might ask ourselves if we can trust the mottos: "if it feels right, do it", or "do what your heart tells you".

Proverbs 9: 13-18- The woman named Folly is loud and brash. She is ignorant and doesn't even know it. She sits in her doorway on the heights overlooking the city. She calls out to men going by who are minding their own business. "Come home with me," she urges the simple. To those without good judgment, she says, "Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best!" But the men don't realize that her former guests are now in the grave.

Jeremiah 17:9- The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

The Dark One says that humanity has the power to move beyond our weaknesses, but Merikk has his doubts. The Bible expresses some thoughts about that, too.

Romans 3:10,12- As the Scriptures say, "No one is good- not even one." "All have turned away from God; all have gone wrong. No one does good, not even one.

Romans 3:23- For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard.

James 2:10- And a person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as the person who has broken all of God's laws.

The situation for humanity doesn't look optimistic, does it? Although when comparing ourselves to other humans we might look pretty good, when comparing ourselves to God's standard, perfection, even the best of us falls far short. But as Merikk suggest, despite the Bible's grim diagnosis for humanity, the Bible also lists the cure:

Romans 6:23-For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8-But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Romans 3:22-28 We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times. And he is entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus. Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds. It is based on our faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

Coffee House Questions

Do you think humans lean more toward doing good, or more toward doing evil?

Do you find it easier and more natural to serve yourself, or to sacrifice your interests and serve others?

Do you think that those who have hurt you should be punished or face some form of consequences for their actions? Do you think you should face consequences for things you've done that have hurt someone else? Why or why not?

Next Week

Our first look at 1st Thessalonians!