Wanted: Savior

Believe. Believe. The Dragonborn comes...

Given my love of video games, it was only a matter of time before such a subject appeared in my blog, but before you turn away in exasperation, I urge you to stop, continue reading and observe how the content of such games is rich in meaning.

I recently discovered what I like to call the video game world's "Messiah Complex". I discovered that some of the most popular games to players in this day and age are not those who feature a run n' gun protagonist, but rather, a foretold savior who destroys evil beyond normal men. I discovered this while watching/listening to a beautiful cover of a song from the new adventure game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z9TdDCWN7g The more I listened to the song, the more the song and its subject became strangely familiar...

It hit me. The most notable feature was how much the song reminded me of "Oh come Oh come Emmanuel." I then found myself very surprised by how closely the subject matter of both songs coincided. Both were songs of hope directed to a people who had lost all hope long ago. Each song promised with complete assurance, the coming of a messianic warrior who would deliver his people from a "darkness". I immediately recalled Isaiah 9:2, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." Upon reading further into Skyrim's plot, I was even more surprised to discover that the evil itself was one of spiritual death. The evil force was one that the people could not defeat without help from a hero possessing power they did not have and could not wield. In short, the Dragonborn. In shorter, a savior. 

Both messianic figures are Dragonslayers. Both are the fulfillment of promises and are foretold for years before their birth. Both ultimately succeed in their purpose and free their respective peoples, not just their own ethnic groups, but all the people of their world from a spiritual death. Both are humble men, whose only concern and sole goal in life is for those around them. But despite so many similarities and shared traits, only one savior is real. Roughly 400 years before his birth, Jesus Christ was predicted as the triumphant warrior fulfillment to a fight that had long been thought lost. 

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this." (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Christ's death opened the gates of Heaven to men. Instead of a doomed existence separated from God and therefore love itself, man was freed to enter into eternal life. A savior doesn't just achieve without loss, he gives of himself. He might give his strength, his endurance, his property. Christ gave his life. Blood. Sweat. Pain. Such self-sacrifice exemplifies a savior. Christ wasn't just any messiah, he was OUR savior.

Taking time to relax by playing a video game is one of my pastimes, but what I enjoy more than playing the game, is learning from it. Unlike the fictitious Dragonborn who despite his messianic mission and subsequent success, is only a man, Jesus Christ is both man and God. His triumph over a spiritual death isn't confined to the pages of a book, but is completely real. His story is the greatest tale of a promised warrior that has ever been told, and best of all? The story isn't done. The ending is the best part- an ending that is yet to come.

You'll know. You'll know. The MESSIAH is come...

Bearing Witness to Wonders

“Give me a sign.”

Something.

Anything.

But preferably something magnificent.

We’ve all asked for a sign at one point in our life; for a reassurance of God’s existence, his unfailing love, or simply because we wanted to witness his power. I asked that question recently, as I found myself deep in thought (as is normally the case when I drive alone.) I had just seen The Prince of Egypt and The Ten Commandments in the past two weeks. They have since re-become two of my all time favorites. As I drove, I reflected on the magnificent supernatural signs that the Israelite people had witnessed in the Exodus. My thoughts dwelt on one particular work of God, beautifully depicted in the Prince of Egypt- The Parting of the Red Sea.

I tried in vain to imagine what it must have been like to watch as the sea rushed open in front of you. To see sparkling walls of water rear abruptly skyward, nearly touching the clouds themselves. To stand speechless as a dry path between these walls appeared. To walk along this path, towards a shore that was so far away, that it could not even be seen. I found myself thinking:

“Lord, give me a sign of your power. You showed your people back then, you are the same today as then, show me!” 

Nearly immediately, I was answered. I was not surprised. What surprised me, was what answer I received. God gently reminded me that he had already honored my request, and had far exceeded the simple result I was hoping for. He had shown me not one sign, but miracles uncountable.

“The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. there is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices as a strong man to run his course. Its rising is from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat (Psalm 19:1-6).”

The very existence of creation is an inconceivable wonder: a timeless God created all that can be seen, heard or felt, from utter nothingness. It doesn’t get much more impossible than that. Think of water- seemingly simple, but yet a wonderful miracle in its own right. The sunrise on the ocean is astoundingly elegant, the mirrored surface of a mountain lake is unbelievably stunning, and the fact that water behaves differently from any other liquid when it gets cold, is simply beyond human thought. The heavens truly declare the glory of God, as does every insect, flower, rock, and star.

 This revelation awed me. I no longer felt that I had missed out on the glorious signs and wonders recorded in the Bible. Instead I felt privileged to be able to comprehend the majestic splendor of creation that showed forth my God’s infinite power.

All of creation itself is a sign. A wonder. It is a miracle before our eyes. We are the witnesses, not once, but at all times and forevermore.