I caught the last 30 minutes of The Patriot this morning. Wow, I love that movie and adore Mel Gibson's character, Benjamin! His sons, Thomas and Gabriel, are killed by the same cruel British soldier. Benjamin has killed several British soldiers and inspired several other men to fight for freedom, so they specifically target his family to break his spirit.
After Gabriel's death, his dad feels that it's his sins coming back to haunt him, and he loses heart. He refuses to continue to fight with the other men, making the point that losing one man can't matter that much anyway (the familiar and awful lie of insignificance). He buries Gabriel and is ready to head back home when he notices the flag... a tattered American flag Gabriel had been mending to remind himself of what he was fighting for. Oh, I LOVE the next scene when he rides up to meet his fellow militia men and the soldiers, proudly carrying the huge flag and bringing fresh inspiration and fire in their hearts! And then comes the last battle. They are outnumbered, and the British have very little respect for the militia.
One side is fighting for glory; the other for freedom.
The British troops charge them in an effort to "kill their spirits," and several of them start yelling, "Run! Retreat!!" They draw back and stop fighting out of fear, but the enemy is still charging them (much like spiritual warfare). Benjamin sees this, sees a soldier running away from the battle carrying the flag with him, and he grabs it from him, yelling, "NO!! HOLD. HOLD THE LINE! STAY THE COURSE." Another commanding officer sees this and yells, "PUSH FORWARD, MEN!" And I start cheering! Aaaah, I love it!
...Anyway, Benjamin runs up into the old church building... (the building where the British soldiers had burned several innocent townspeople alive earlier, including his daughter-in-law and several friends)... and he holds the flag up as high as he can, right in the doorway to that church. Remembering the malicious brutality of their enemy and seeing that they have no intention of stopping in their attack, they collectively choose to push forward. They fight for their freedom and the freedom of future generations! ("Viva la liberty," as the Frenchman says!) Of course, in the end, Benjamin gets to personally finish off Colonel Tavington, the main villain of the movie. But the greatest scene of the movie (in my opinion) is his call to battle, his plea for those around him to keep fighting with him, and to remember what they are fighting for!
"Quite impressive for a farmer with a pitchfork, wouldn't you say!??" I LOVE IT.
I'm sorry to compare everything to God and the spiritual world. Well, on second thought, no, I'm really not. That scene just fits. The enemy has sin strongholds or addictions in our lives and he feels that he "owns us" there. He laughs in amusement when we decide to try to break free and fight him. He does his best to crush our spirits, to make us feel defeated and incapable, guilty and ashamed when anything goes wrong. And when we get inspired and get serious about fighting him, when we really want to be free from those areas of bondage, he doubles his forces and charges in attack. If we turn in "retreat mode," he mercilessly continues to attack us, making sure we know who's boss. But in the end, he is fighting for his own glory; while we are fighting for freedom and for God's glory! We have something worth fighting for.
When Benjamin yells, "Stay the course," it shakes me to my very core. Push through, Lindsey. Victory and freedom won't come easily, but it WILL BE WORTH IT. And why on earth should I give another tiny inch to the enemy who hates me so much that he desires to ruin me, my family, and my future!?? As Christians fighting to overcome sin, we are all in the midst of our own personal "revolutionary war." It matters, and we cannot lose heart or believe our role is insignificant. (Each one of us is has a part to play, and our choices affect our own futures and the futures of others!)
So I don't have an awesome flag to waive, but for myself and for those around me, I'd like to stand before the church of God as we come under attack and yell, "Stay the course!! PUSH FORWARD, CHRISTIANS!"
Never ever give up! ❤
