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Time sure is flying by. Here we are at the end of September, and there are only three months left in the year. It’s crazy to think that just a second ago, we were celebrating America’s 250 with a huge swim and barbeque party.
One thing that has really become my hobby this year, and a source to just slow down, is going to the movies with my son. We both asked for AMC A-Lister memberships for recent gifts, and this has allowed us to see movies a lot, especially over the summer.
We have seen them way too late at night, spent way too much time in movie theaters, and had way too many Letterboxd conversations (check out mine if you’d like). But it is a way that we always have something to talk about, and it does cause us to pause, which my brain often needs.
So in our never-ending quest to see films, Disney rereleased Avengers: Endgame, and we had to see it. It had the clever title of Avengers: Endgame Encore, and it was to have extra scenes that would get you ready for Avengers: Doomsday coming in December.
I know many of you don’t care about this, but keep reading. I love this film and was all excited about going to see it in theaters again. This time when I watched it, something really jumped out at me. Something that many of you will be interested in.
As I watched the scene where Natasha and Clint are trying to decide who will sacrifice themselves for the good of all and Clint says that it should be him because of all the bad stuff he has done, Natsha responds by saying, “I don’t judge people on their worst mistakes.”
That line hit me like a frying pan your mom swung at you when you got lippy. Wait, was that just me? That was a big mistake time in my life, let me tell you.
Sillyness aside, I love it when Jesus shows up in pop culture. Satan thinks he owns that realm, but Jesus owns, well, everything, and often implants Himself right in the middle for us to see Him if we are just looking.
In this scene of the second highest grossing film of all time, we have a person who is about to sacrifice herself so others can live, saying, “I don’t judge people on their worst mistakes.” If you can’t see Jesus in that, please get your eyes checked!
He plants His message all over for us to pick up on; it’s just most of the time we don’t. The world is so desperate for a savior that these kinds of heroes show up all over pop culture. This scene screams the truth of who Jesus is.
Still not convinced?
Christ didn’t condemn the woman who committed adultery. He told her to go and sin no more, but He made a point of telling her He didn’t condemn her – John 8:10-11.
In Psalm 103:10-12, scripture tells us that He does not treat us as our sin deserves, because He loves us so much. I could go on and on, but perhaps if we just remember Peter, we can definitely agree that Jesus doesn’t look upon us based on our worst mistake.
Jesus built His church on the guy who denied Him three times. That’s all the proof I need to know my Lord and Savior doesn’t look upon me as my worst mistakes. And believe me, I am thankful for that. I have made some gigantic mistakes in my life.
We aren’t going to rehash those, just like you probably don’t want to rehash yours, but chances are you’re thinking of one right now. You are also likely thankful that God doesn’t call any of us by the mistake label we’ve hung around our own necks.
As I heard that line in the movie, Jesus jumped right out at me. Over the next several days, this stayed on my heart. I thought of how He didn’t judge me by my worst mistake, but rather sent people to me to help me crawl out of the mess I’d gotten myself into.
That’s not to say there weren’t consequences, but He was there to help me through, rather than say, “You idiot, what were you thinking?”
My heart was also filled with how I need to be the one Jesus can use when others are in need of a helping hand. Mistakes can make us feel as if we are buried, no good, beyond help, but that simply isn’t true. Just like Christ sent folks to me in my time of distress, I need to be open to Him sending me to others who may need the same assurance that I did.
They may need to hear just as I did, “Hey the sun will come up tomorrow and the Son will always love you.”
God uses others to help those who feel like that one mistake will define them for the rest of their lives. I want to be that someone that Jesus can use the way others have been used by Jesus to help me after I screwed up big time.
Mistakes are going to happen. Hannaha Montana told us years ago that everybody makes mistakes. But Jesus isn’t society; He doesn’t hang a label around your mistake. He is there to help, and often sends friendly, supportive faces your way.
He loves you so much and is so full of grace that He works His perfect plan around our mistakes. Trusting God means that we are not judged by our worst mistakes, and take it from someone who has made plenty, that’s outstanding! Until next time…
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