Scary movies vs. God's Providence

Watched part of a scary You-Tube clip about monsters.  I thought it was going to be funny, but it was actually quite scary and it really affected me.  I stopped watching it early on because I saw it was worthless.  There were two major themes that made the video scary:  (1)  Evil creatures were portrayed as lawless and powerful, (2) The victims' were comfortable in their very normal routines when they were surprised by their attackers.  

These reflect two very important lies from Satan: (1) that evil is powerful and good is weak and (2) that to shield yourself from evil you must be able to control your circumstances.  In the movie, what started to be scary was a subjective camera moving through the woods and approaching a small house.  The idea you receive is that the uncontrolled woods are about to encroach on the quiet, civil home.  Anxiety builds when people are shown doing quiet, ordinary things like cooking and watching TV with eerie, but with disquieting background music.  The cognitive dissonance makes you anticipate that unknown bad things are about to happen, and the safe normality of victims' lives is about to be invaded upon.  

Then there is an event that would be innocent, and ordinary-looking except it is slightly out of place: someone unexpected showing up, or objects that appear to be far away one moment suddenly appearing much closer without explanation.  The lack of explanation says that the world is out of control and the victims only peripherally perceive it.

Then something happens to single out one victim so the monster can attack.  Most of this is left to the imagination which is worse.  The elements of surprise and unnaturalness are used to yank the victim out of the belief that he is in control and make him suddenly realize his vulnerability.  The message is clear: you are always vulnerable, and bad things will happen when you least expect it. You're never safe when you're alone; it's better to act like a herd animal and maybe someone else will take the fall instead of you.

But what does Scripture say about these lies?  First, evil is not in control, God is. “The LORD works out everything for his own ends--even the wicked for a day of disaster.” Proverbs 16:4, NIV.   Evil persons, demons, creatures of all sorts have only the power they borrow from God, and while He is not the author of their wicked actions, He does have all power to curb them from full exercise of thei will.  Matthew Henry comments on this verse:

1. That God is the first cause. He is the former of all things and all persons, the fountain of being; he gave every creature the being it has and appointed it its place. Even the wicked are his creatures, though they are rebels; ... though he made them, he will not save them.

2. That God is the last end. All is of him and from him, and therefore all is to him and for him. He made all according to his will and for his praise; he designed to serve his own purposes by all his creatures, and he will not fail of his designs; all are his servants. The wicked he is not glorified by, but he will be glorified upon. 

Evil loves to present good as weak, rule-following folly and present itself as dangerous, powerful, and free.  Nothing could be further from the truth, for God will completely destroy it and them in His time.  God has given His people, His saints, dominion over the works of the devil. If the wicked harm the righteous, it is our job as God's emissaries in this fallen world to exercise our God-given authority through faith and love and stop them.  And even if we should fail to exercise our power, God's power and purposes will limit evil ones, and they are completely unable to do anything to stop God's providence. He will restore all things and make them more than right for His loved ones.  We have nothing to fear from rampant evil.

Second, we do not need to carefully control our lives and experiences to be safe from evil.  We must instead trust God to care for us.  We must still take precautions and act sensibly, just as we must take care of the "gardens" God has given to our care.  If we let our gardens become weedy, presumptuously trusting that God will take care of the weeds in the end, we are only being lazy.  Similarly, if I don't lock my doors at night, I am being careless, presumptuous, and lazy by not adequately protecting what God has entrusted me with.  God takes care of the impossible (often through me!), but He is teaching me to care for the possible.  I should not violate His trust by not taking proper precautions.  However, I don't need to worry about things beyond my control.  God is caring for those, and those are areas He requires my trust.  It is faith to leave in God's hands all that I cannot handle; it is presumption to leave to God's care what He has placed in mine.  It is fear to take into my own hands what only God can control; it is wisdom not to worry about those things He has reserved to His own care.  Finally, it is my duty to exercise the proper authority of Christ entrusted to me to stand against evil, to resist the devil and his agents, and to restore to their proper allegiance all the things in the world that stand against God, no matter how big or impossible they seem.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.” Philippians 4:6-8, NIV.

This is why God tells me to think about good things.  It's not merely some blissful ignorance that says, "don't worry; be happy" and blithely goes about.  God wants me to focus on Him and all the good things that He is working in all circumstances.  Paul wrote this letter from prison.  He was thinking about the goodness of God even where he was.

“One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.” Psalms 62:11, 12, NIV.

Since God is both good and strong, I can trust Him with my life.  But since I live in a fallen world, not everything that happens to me come from His loving hand.  It is easy to tell what comes from God, because it is good:

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17, NIV.

If evil comes into my life, God has given me authority to send it to flight.  Only, I must stand against it, and not submit to it:

“and do not give the devil a foothold.” Ephesians 4:27, NIV.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7, NIV.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:10-18, NIV.

Standing can be difficult, but I have nothing to worry about.  God has put His power in me and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Because He is working in me, He will work out all things for good.  He has put me here to be a hero!  No matter how long I have to struggle, I'll only be here on this fallen earth for a few more years.  And if the worst comes and I die, then I will be in His glorious presence! Amen!