Sometimes, the simplest stories are the most powerful.
After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, why was He looking for them in the garden?
In Jesus’ “lost” parables in Luke 15, why was the woman searching for the coin? Why was the shepherd out looking for the one lost sheep? Why did the father run out to welcome his prodigal son home?
Because even though they had sinned, God still loved Adam and Eve.
Because the coin was valuable to the woman.
Because the sheep was important to the shepherd.
Because even though he ran away, the father still loved his son.
This story – God’s story – is a power story that has been told many, many times.
In Wreck it Ralph, why did Ralph decide to save Vanellope?
In Disney’s Frozen, why did Anna chase after Elsa when she ran away?
In Finding Nemo, Why did Marlin go searching for Nemo after he was caught because he disobeyed his father?
In Saving Private Ryan, why did Tom Hank’s character’ risk his own life to save Private Ryan’s life?
In Schindler’s List, why did Oskar Schindler sacrifice so much to save the Jews in his factory?
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die.) But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6-8
While some are cute and others serious, all of these movies tell a powerful story because all of these movies tell God’s story.
God wants to save you the way Ralph saved Vanellope. God is chasing after you the way Anna chased after Elsa. God is searching for you the way Marlin searched for Nemo. God sacrificed for you the way Tom Hank’s character sacrificed for Private Ryan and the way Oskar Schindler sacrificed for his factory workers.
Yes, God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. God demonstrated his own love for you, in that while you were still a sinner, Christ died for you. And God demonstrated his own love for your kids, in that while they were still sinners, Christ died for them.