One of my favourite movie series has been the Marvel Avenger series. Oh boy! I have watched the movies several times. Each character has grown on me, with their strengths, weaknesses, moments of glory, and downfalls. The most disappointing movie to watch in the entire series was Avengers: Infinity War.
*Spoilers Ahead*
It was highly baffling, why the movie ended in the way it did. Even though much was undone in the following part of Avengers: The End Game, I wish Thor had gone for the head of Thanos in Infinity War! Our lives are often like that—we wish we could go back to that moment and undo that one thing, but God, in all His mercy, has the End Game planned. That moment when we are redeemed and completely restored.
As Christians, we often forget we are living in war. The Bible has several references, reminding us that we are not of this world and that we must be prepared for war.
At War with the Flesh
The world we live in is dedicated to self-fulfillment and living in the here and now for pleasure and benefit. To add to that, our own flesh is always at war with us. The gospel nudges us to rise above the earthly things. Jesus himself addressed the worry about life and what we eat and wear. “Is life not more than food and the body more than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25)
Every time I mindlessly scroll through Swiggy or Myntra, this verse would be such an apt reminder. This doesn’t mean we can’t plan meals or add to our wardrobe, but the significant verse is Jesus persuading people to set their priorities right. Seek first His Kingdom and righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
The Word also gives no excuses for our habitual sins—anger, rage, malice, slander, sexual immorality, gossip, greed, lust, or evil desires (Colossians 3: 1-17; Philippians 2: 14-15). The writers of the New Testament have not failed to remind us that in Christ, we are a new creation and need to die to our old selves (Romans 6, 2 Cor 5:17). I cannot tell you the number of times I have been frustrated at the high standard we have been called to live!
Living with an eternal perspective does not mean disregarding our needs, unfulfilled desires, struggles, pain, or disappointment; instead, it means viewing every situation through the lens of God's eternal purpose. It means accepting short-term losses with grace because we have been promised long-term gains in God’s kingdom. It means turning to God each time to hear, "Take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33), wearing the armour (Ephesians 6:10- 18), and fearlessly fighting the battles. Yes, you, too, can have your Wonder Woman moment!
At War with the World
Living a Christian life requires utmost faith and long-distance vision—living by faith and not by sight. Look at Noah; he started building an ark without any sign of a flood, and Abraham, who had one son and two grandsons, believed God would give him descendants as many as the stars in the sky.
As Hebrews 11:13-16 says, “All these people… didn’t receive the things they were promised, they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
When I first moved to college, I felt quite out of place. In the first year, there were a number of mornings I woke up thinking, “I should just go back home. I don’t belong here. Why am I striving so hard here when life could be much simpler at home?” I believed God helped me secure admission to the college, so I shunned the thought. I spent the next three years studying hard because I knew there wasn’t an option to quit and return home. The only way was forward, even though the future was not crystal clear.
Christian lives are lived in the tension between the "here and now" of earthly existence and the "beyond" of eternal promises. Believers are called to live fully in the present, engaging in the world with purpose and mission while keeping our hearts and minds anchored in the eternal hope of heaven. This tension shapes us to navigate daily struggles, joys, and responsibilities, knowing that while we are in the world, we are not of it. We can live with the awareness that our ultimate citizenship is in the kingdom of God, beyond this life.
The End Game
Have you wondered why these superhero movies sell so much? It’s more than the superhero’s looks, the cinematics, and the 3D effects. Deep in our hearts, we are all longing for a saviour. We hope someone will save us from the mundane routine and the sudden calamities our lives could fall into. To experience that vicariously, we go watch a movie and breathe in that hope.
The Christian life is living with the knowledge of a Saviour who offers far more than relief in tough times. The "endgame" for us is the ultimate outcome of spiritual battles, rooted in eternal salvation and God's final victory. It encompasses the promise of eternal life with God, the hope of resurrection, and the restoration of all creation. Scripture foretells Christ's return for the final judgment, rewarding those who have remained faithful with eternal life and bringing justice to all. This concludes with the creation of a new heaven and new earth, where we will dwell with Him free from sin and death.
Ultimately, the endgame is the full realisation of Christ’s victory over sin and darkness, secured through His resurrection, and fully revealed at the end of time.
Photo by frank mckenna on Unsplash
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