Avatar

When it came to Avatar I actually enjoyed the second time viewing better.

Jeremiah 48:1-47

Reference:  v.47  "Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in days to come," declares the Lord.  Here ends the judgment on Moab. (NIV Bible)

Explore:  When the big blockbuster movie Avatar was at the cinema I had the pleasure of seeing the film twice.  I am not known for watching movies numerous times as I prefer to get totally lost in they mystery of the storyline.  When I am watching a film for the second time I can't stop myself from constantly thinking about the next scene and how the current scene fits in to what is to come.  However, when it came to Avatar I actually enjoyed the second time viewing better. Without spoiling the movie for those who have not seen it yet, I think I enjoyed the second viewing because I was prepared for all the destruction that was going to happen.  There were so many points of hopelessness and grief throughout the movie that when I was watching it the first time I started to lose hope for the characters (did I mention that I tend to get very involved when I'm watching movies?!)  But during the second screening of Avatar I could remind myself of the hope that was to come.

Application:  Reading through Jeremiah 48 was like watching Avatar for the first time.  The passage speaks of so much destruction and torment it is hard to see the hope in the story.  However, at the very last moment, in the very last verse we hear of hope.  After 46 verses of pain and suffering God finishes by saying, 'Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in days to come.'  When all hope seems lost God is still there.  There are times in our life when we feel like we are going through destruction and grief.  There are times in our life when we struggle to find the hope that we need to get through the day.  And yet Jeremiah reminds us that no matter how devastating our lives may be… God will still be there to restore us.  He doesn't say that He will take all pain away and destruction will never come to us, but He does promise to be there for us and we have the hope that He will restore us.  When life throws curve balls to us again and again may we not give up on God but remind ourselves of the hope that is to come.  Destruction and grief may still happen but we hold on to the hope that God will be there in the end, with open arms, ready to restore us.

Prayer:  Lord, sometimes it is so difficult to see you as we are filled with hurt, grief and pain.  Help us to put our hope in You.  Amen.

What are the areas of pain in your life?  How would you like God to restore you?