In the movie "The Shawshank Redemption" — in the original THE SHWASHANK REDEMPTION — The protagonist, Andrew “Andy” Dufresne (Tim Robbins), is unjustly sentenced to two life sentences for the murders of his wife and her lover. These crimes, as becomes clear throughout the film, were committed by someone else.
After nearly 19 years serving an undeserved sentence, a new inmate arrives at Shawshank prison: a young man named Tommy (Gil Bellows), who had previously served time in another prison where, coincidentally, he met the real perpetrator of the murders and is willing to testify in favor of Dufresne to free him from the unjust sentence.
What follows is a meeting between Tommy and Samuel Norton (Bob Gunton), the warden of the penitentiary, who asks the young inmate if he would be willing to go into court and swear before an Almighty God to recount what he was saying to the jury. Tommy replies, "Just give me the chance.".
I won't say what happens next, so as not to give spoilers about the film, in case anyone hasn't seen it yet.
What I believe is important to highlight in this scene is the director's statement:
Would you swear before an Almighty God?
Anyone who has seen this movie knows that, in reality, the prison director wasn't as God-fearing as he wanted to appear, but this question should prompt any conscious Christian to reflect: to what extent do we truly understand that we serve an Almighty God, who holds supreme authority, against whom there is no recourse, no argument… and whose decision is irrevocable?
In today's world, it seems that this is not usually taken into account.
The world in general, in the sense of those who do not fear or serve God, although not necessarily atheists, has a perspective of God based on mere convenience, and a good clear example of this is the repetition, as if it were a mantra, of the final part of 1ˢᵗ John 4:8"God is love.".
But this "love" that so many—including liberal and apostate "Christians"—talk about and use to justify practically everything, is not the love of God: it is a deceitful, fake "love" that does not aim at the real benefit of the one who is loved, but only at momentary joy.
That's why many people, when defending progressive and blatantly anti-Christian agendas, appeal to this passage: they simply never understood what God's love truly is!
Yes, God is love, but only in Christ and NEVER outside of Him!
The world forgets that God is also absolutely just:
God judges the righteous, and is angry with the wicked every day.
(Psalm 7:11 – ACF)
The world forgets that God does not acquit the guilty.
The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy,
(Numbers 14:18 – ACF)
who forgives iniquity and transgression,
that the guilty party does not consider themselves innocent,
And he visits the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
The world forgets that God is a consuming fire.
See that you do not reject the one who speaks;
(Hebrews 12:25-29 – ACF)
For if those who rejected him who warned them on earth did not escape, much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns from heaven.;
The voice of which then shook the earth, but now has announced, saying:
Once again I will move not only the earth, but also the heavens.
And this word:
Once again, it shows the change of movable things, such as finished goods, so that immovable things may remain.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.;
Because our God is a consuming fire..
The world forgets that falling into His hands is a terrible thing:
For if we deliberately continue to sin after having received the full knowledge of the truth,
(Hebrews 10:26-31 – KJA)
There is no longer any sacrifice for sins,
But a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all the enemies of God.
Now, if those who reject the Law of Moses die without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses,
You be the judge; how much greater punishment will he deserve?
Who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant by which He was sanctified, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
For we know him who declared:
“"Vengeance belongs to me!",
and in another passage:
“"The Lord will execute judgment on his people.".
Like this, It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.!
God forgives sin, but not by giving some kind of "celestial stroke of the pen" to the guilt of sinners: ALL sins, without exception, are punished!
They were either punished in Jesus on the cross of Calvary, or they will be punished in the very sinner who rejects Him, for all eternity.
The forgiveness of sins is freely given to every sinner who truly repents and trusts in divine forgiveness, but this grace was not obtained freely; it required the sacrifice of God himself, in the person of his Son.
Speaking in terms of what applies to a sincere Christian, there is often a tendency to consider the expression "fear of God" as synonymous with "respect," but the meaning is much broader and deeper than that, and the Lord Jesus himself took it upon himself to show the magnitude of it:
I tell you, my friends:
(Luke 12:4-5 – KJA)
Do not fear those who can kill the body; However, beyond that, they can't do anything else.
However, I will reveal to you whom you should fear:
Fear Him who, after killing the body, has power to cast the soul into hell.
Yes, I assure you, That is the one you should fear..
The Christian's "fear" does indeed involve the act of fearing to encounter God, in day of his trial, as their Judge and not as their loving Father.
It is true that God is love… and the world delights in pointing to this fact when trying to justify itself and relying on it to continue living in sin.
However, worldly people, and especially Christians, can never forget what has already been said: God is love only in Christ, as Paul affirms throughout chapter 8 of Romans: without being in Christ, the sinner will not know the love of God, but only His righteousness!
This justice system, as has already been said, does not exonerate the guilty.
Many, however, even those who claim to be Christians, tend to act just like unbelievers: with greater fear of the consequences of opposing an earthly authority than of displeasing God.
This is not to say that a Christian should not obey and respect authorities, but this can only be done to the extent that the orders of secular authorities do not conflict with Christian principles!
From the moment this happens, the attitude to be taken is summarized in what Peter said:
And bringing them, they presented them to the council.
(Acts 5:27-29 – ACF)
And the high priest questioned them, saying:
‘'Did we not expressly command you not to teach in this name?'
And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching,
And you want to make us responsible for this man's blood.'’
But Peter and the apostles answered and said:
It is more important to obey God than men..
If the apostles had acted with concern, like many self-proclaimed Christians today, for the consequences of disobeying the Empire—which usually led to death—Christianity would have died there, still in its cradle!
How many people in the world today have the courage to face the harsh consequences of not adopting the "politically correct" discourse that, for example, attempts to transform a long list of sins—such as abortion, gender ideology, drug legalization, etc.—into normal and acceptable things?
It is relatively rare, even within the Christian community, to see anyone who clearly and firmly opposes such ideologies.
It is obvious that every human being fears (for their life, for being deprived of their freedom, for being subjected to absurd laws…), but Jesus never hid the fact that in the world his followers would have afflictions and would be hated for being called by his name, however, this world is already defeated.
I have warned you about these things, so that in me you may have peace.
(John 16:33 / Matthew 10:22 – KJA)
In this world you will have trouble; but have faith and courage!
"I conquered the world."”
(…)
And because of my name, you will be hated by everyone.
However, the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
In short: earthly authorities, however tyrannical, impious, and unjust they may be, have, in relation to any Christian, their power restricted to what they can do in the earthly sphere, but they can do nothing against the spirituality of that Christian.
Therefore, fearing God has never ceased to be, and continues to be, far more important.
And the same Holy Spirit who gave strength to the early Christians so that they would not deny their faith (even at the cost of their lives) is the one who exists in every true Christian in the world today: just as He gave them strength, He is ready to give strength to each of us so that Jesus Christ is not denied under any circumstances, allowing those who love Him to be faithful to Him and reaffirm Him. even in the face of the death penalty.
Fear nothing of those things which thou shalt suffer.
(Revelation 2:10 – ACF)
Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested;
And you will have tribulation for ten days.
Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life..
To Whom Is Already Destined The Terrible “Chalice of Wrath” of Gods?
Let us therefore fear Almighty God now, that He may be to us, through Christ, the loving and generous Father that He is, in whose presence we shall live for all eternity.
In the Bonds of Calvary.
It seems that the end times are unfolding ever more rapidly, and before the Lord returns like a thief in the night, we can already observe signs of the prophesied reign of the Antichrist consolidating not only in Brazil, but throughout the world!
In the 2023 phase of "The Worst Gospel," I decided to use new formats in the hope of helping to increase the reach of content related to the Scriptures—stories, videos, shorter texts, guest authors…—and this publication, which I took the liberty of revising and illustrating, is part of that project.
Thank you for reading this far.
I still need all the help I can get: comments, shares, and reactions help spread this content, which was entirely produced with the intention of contributing to the edification of the Body of Christ in the world.
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