My family and I sat to see Evan Almighty after dinner this evening, thinking it might be entertaining, like its predecessor, Bruce Almighty. Little did I know, I would learn some valuable lessons from the movie.
It's not that I didn't already know or believe these things about the wonderful character of our God, it's just that I haven't really thought of them specifically in the terms I saw them in the movie. There are three be to be exact.
1. In the movie, Evan, understandably resists God's overtures to build an ark. God, however, is rather persistent. The number 614 (as in Genesis 6:14) shows up everywhere. Pairs of animals begin following Evan to congressional meetings. The Go-4 Wood (pronounced Gopher Wood) Company keeps dropping off lumber at his front door. And despite his freakish attention to personal hygiene, Evan's hair and beard begin growing at alarming rates. Evan's home and professional lives become very complicated. But God assures Evan, "Whatever I do, I do because I love you." Evan spends the rest of the movie finding out just what God means. Isn't that the story of our lives as well? Through struggles and storms, pains and perplexities we learn that whatever God does in our lives, He does because He loves us.
2. Later in the movie, God (Played by Morgan Freeman) talks with Evan's wife in a little diner. She is struggling over how she could ever go back and support her husband, who has turned into the Old Testament Noah because "God told me to build an ark for a flood is coming." God reminds her of the time she prayed for the family to become closer. He tells her, in effect, "How does God answer a prayer like that? He doesn't just Zap you and you are all closer. He gives you opportunities to become closer. If you pray for patience, He does not just pour patience into you; He gives you opportunity to be patient. And if you pray for courage, He does not just zap courage into you, but gives you opportunities to be courageous. "
So many times we pray for God to just DO something, take away the struggle; help us get out of pain, love people more. But, we wait and He does not make it so. But, all the while we fail to notice that He is constantly putting us in situations that, if we chose to lean on Him totally, would make us more like we are praying to be.
3. At the end of the movie, as the family is back together and happy, they are in a picnic and Evan sees God far off in the trees. He excuses himself and goes to catch up with Him. After some conversation, God finally says, "Well, it's time." "Time for what?" asks Evan. "Time to do THE DANCE." Of course, God is referring to the little dance Evan does throughout the movie, when things are going well and he is happy or blessed. But, Evan asks, "Will you join me?" God, in effect says, "I thought you'd never ask." And they dance.
This is a WONDERFUL parable of the tender love of God for His people. God is ALWAYS willing to dance with us through life. He is always available and willing, and even EAGER to waltz through our trials, sadness and pain, as well as our joy and celebrations. What a heart-warming picture of the Almighty God! He is always present; securely present; sovereignly present.
