OK. So maybe that's a bit much. However as I was playing Super Mario Galaxy on the Wii a few days ago, I noticed an analogy that I liked.
Super Mario Galaxy is one of those character-based adventure games where your character has a life meter. In SMG, you're life meter has three points. So get hit, lose a point. Do that three-times and you lose a life. Like most games, the life meter can be restored and in SMG you can gain a point by collecting a coin.
So I'm playing and my life meter is down to 1 while I'm fighting this boss. The timer's beeping loudly letting me know that I'm close to done for (and increasing my stress level.) I'm able to get a couple of hits on him anyway but still have a way to go. Then I find a couple coins, so my life is restored. Whew, now I'm back where I was at the start of the fight, but he's still down. Advantage - Jay.
How does this relate to following Jesus? First of all, notice that Mario was down but not out. In fact Mario with only one life point is just as affective at beating the boss as Mario with a full meter. He's not weakened or limited. That's the same as it is as Christians. You may be hurt, tired, broken, you may have sinned or screwed up in some way. But that does not mean you are ineffective for Jesus. You can still fight.
Then there's that music. Every time you're down to one point, the music gets faster and so does your pulse in response to it. That's Satan. Sin, fall, fail, whatever and he'll make sure you know it. You think you're in danger and start making even worse choices. We don't need to because we've got...
Coins. Forgiveness. Your screw-ups, sins, hurts, anything that makes us think that we're in danger are forgiven. It's the foot-washing I mentioned earlier. Go to Jesus, or any other Christian and receive forgiveness and you will be healed. Then you're back at full-health and the enemy is still down.
Sure, it's geeky. But it just goes to show that God can use anything to show you Truth.
Super Mario Galaxy is one of those character-based adventure games where your character has a life meter. In SMG, you're life meter has three points. So get hit, lose a point. Do that three-times and you lose a life. Like most games, the life meter can be restored and in SMG you can gain a point by collecting a coin.
So I'm playing and my life meter is down to 1 while I'm fighting this boss. The timer's beeping loudly letting me know that I'm close to done for (and increasing my stress level.) I'm able to get a couple of hits on him anyway but still have a way to go. Then I find a couple coins, so my life is restored. Whew, now I'm back where I was at the start of the fight, but he's still down. Advantage - Jay.
How does this relate to following Jesus? First of all, notice that Mario was down but not out. In fact Mario with only one life point is just as affective at beating the boss as Mario with a full meter. He's not weakened or limited. That's the same as it is as Christians. You may be hurt, tired, broken, you may have sinned or screwed up in some way. But that does not mean you are ineffective for Jesus. You can still fight.
Then there's that music. Every time you're down to one point, the music gets faster and so does your pulse in response to it. That's Satan. Sin, fall, fail, whatever and he'll make sure you know it. You think you're in danger and start making even worse choices. We don't need to because we've got...
Coins. Forgiveness. Your screw-ups, sins, hurts, anything that makes us think that we're in danger are forgiven. It's the foot-washing I mentioned earlier. Go to Jesus, or any other Christian and receive forgiveness and you will be healed. Then you're back at full-health and the enemy is still down.
Sure, it's geeky. But it just goes to show that God can use anything to show you Truth.
1 comments:
Maybe you could preach that one on slashdot. :)
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