Maybe it's time for something new

I think it is easy to underestimate Satan. His plans are relentless, he will always wreak havoc, rain or shine, sleet or snow. I find it important to watch out not only for myself, but more importantly, to be able to expose, and dispose of his plans, wherever they lie.

Tonight I watched a movie The Machinist. It was rather oblique, yet mesmerizing and very well put together, in my opinion. The protagonist, Trevor, hasn't slept in over a year. He looks like he's been hit by an Amtrak and he wants to sleep, to feel better, comfortable, livid, again, but no matter what, he cannot sleep. This guy Ivan shows up at random, supposedly one of Trevor's co-workers, and after his appearance, strange things begin happening in Trevor's life. Throughout the movie, it is hard to tell what is actually happening to Trevor and what he is seeing because of his insomnia. Nevertheless, he begins to believe that Ivan is the one causing all the ruckus, so he attempts to track him down, eventually losing what little trust he had in his friends (or lack of). Many people have watched this movie and said it was terrible, a sort of random disarray of scenes that are supposed to confuse you. I think there is something more to the story.

You see Trevor going down a road, and it doesn't look like a pretty one. There is even a brief part of dialogue where he says that he 'tried him [Jesus Christ]'. Most of the time, it would seem that Trevor has no choice but to keep living, keep going to work, keep trying to find out what the hell is going on, but there are a few scenes where he is offered a choice. I think that the story is really about Trevor coming to a fork in the road. He can either continue down the road he is on and destroy himself, or get help. Although Trevor's story in The Machinist is more violently and disturbingly illustrated, it's all too similar to our own stories.

We have a choice too. The Enemy can trick us into believing in our actions, or justifying them. He comes in spirit, the same way the Lord does. Do not underestimate him. Because next thing you know, you're going slow and steady down a path of self-righteousness, or a path of contempt, or idolatry, or sexual immorality, or apathy, or even murder. To me, it's like falling asleep at the wheel and inadvertantly exiting off the highway. Remember the part in Dumb and Dumber When Lloyd takes his eyes off the road for two seconds, and he misses the big left turn to Aspen?

I am grateful for thinking this way about the road I travel on. But my heart melts when it comes to people like Trevor. Being Jesus to people is important, but let us take steps of faith, like in The Last Cruscade when Indy steps out from the face of the cliff, not knowing what lies ahead, but trusting instead. Let's hang our lamps up high where everyone can see.