The most important parts of the Titanic movie

 

Recently I put the movie Titanic on my TV in the background while I was doing some editing work, just out of curiosity because I hadn't watched it for about 20 years. I wasn't interested in seeing it again after that because I was bothered by the immorality glorified in the love story and the fact that there was so little faith portrayed (when obviously a lot of the people on the Titanic were Christians and there are numerous stories of them sacrificially helping others etc.). 

So I had very low expectations for the movie this time and, as often happens in that case, it wasn't as bad as I remembered. That included the love story, which was still bad (especially the immorality), but I could identify with it somewhat because I have been in love for nine months now, which started basically from the moment we met. So I know that kind of thing can happen. The biggest difference between the movie's love story and mine is that our relationship includes God, and is in fact focused on Him, while of course the one between Jack and Rose is quite the opposite. 

I did notice some nods to faith at the end of the movie, however, that I did not remember from before. I looked up the last song that the musicians started playing when they knew they were going to die and found out it was "Nearer My God to Thee." I also noticed that a man was praying, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death" from Psalm 23 (though Jack mocks him by telling him to walk faster). And then the film lingers for a while on a Catholic priest who first prays to Mary (which I wouldn't do in that situation) but then also quotes a long scripture passage to encourage faith in Christ among the dying (which I definitely would do if I was in that situation). 

So even though none of the main characters exhibit any faith in God or concern about where they might go when they die, at least spiritual issues are represented to a small degree in the movie. But those issues are actually the biggest ones of all when people are facing certain death. "There are no atheists in foxholes," as the old saying goes, and therefore the most important stories from the Titanic are ones like that of Pastor John Harper, who spent his last moments praying for people and calling them to believe in Jesus so that they could be saved in the way that matters most. As one comment on the below video says, although Harper gave up his life jacket so someone else could survive, and gave his life for the Lord and others, he is now actually more alive than we are. 

 

What's missing in movies where the hero dies

 

I watched Greenland 2 last night, and it made me think of something that has repeatedly come to mind when I've seen movies like this. When they are well done (like Greenland 2 is), I am very moved by the sacrifices that the main characters make for those they love (and/or for the good of mankind). But I often feel a little empty and sad at the end because there is no mention of reward in the next life--only the earthly benefits of the sacrifices made.

Greenland 2 is a perfect example, because when spiritual issues are discussed upon the death of a minor character, the hero implies that he doesn't believe in heaven. So when he later dies, the only benefits contemplated are ones for the future of this life (temporal hope for the future prosperity of his loved ones and humanity as a whole). At that point I couldn't help thinking, That's nice, but who knows how long those who survive will live, and then what do they have to look forward to after their death? 

If, on the other hand, our faithful sacrifice for God and others results in eternal benefits as well as temporal ones, how much more glorious will be our end and how much more motivation will we have to persevere through suffering in this life?

All this made me think of one of the best songs ever written about dying and going to heaven (IMO)... "Home," by Rich Mullins. I'll share the video here, and below it I will list some verses from the Bible that talk about the next life. I hope you'll take just a few minutes to read them, and I hope and pray that God will give you the faith to believe they are true, and that you will have the comfort and motivation that comes from such faith.

"For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21)

"Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” (John 6:27)

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)

"My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:2-3)

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4)

"They are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Revelation 7:15-17)

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12)

"For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it." (2 Corinthians 5:1-9)