E = The Edge

The Edge
Directed By: Lee Tamahori
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Alec Baldwin, Elle Macpherson, and Harold Perrineau
Rated R for language and some adventure gore/violence

WARNING!!! Spoiler Alert... If you have not seen this film, I suggest you watch the movie before reading this blog. Otherwise, Enjoy!

The film, The Edge is about three men who are trapped in the wilderness after surviving a plane crash. As they struggle to survive and find rescue, they are also being hunted by a grizzly Bear.

While there are many aspects of this film that could be connected to the Bible and our walk with the Lord, I am only going to focus on one- The Bear.

In the film, the three men, Charles, Robert, and Stephan, had sustained many injuries from the plane crash. And while trying to start a fire, Stephan accidentally stabs himself in the leg. After a while, the great bear smells his blood in the air and attacks. He kills Stephan and feeds on his body. Though Charles and Robert escape, the Bear continues to hunt them down.

A little while back I had given my testimony. I spoke about pornography, and how it was my greatest temptation in life. However, I think this film works as a good analogy for all temptations.

In 1 Peter 5:8 it says, "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."

The Devil is a hunter. A master hunter at that, and this film draws the perfect picture of us when we are faced with the devil and the temptations he presents.

In my testimony I talked about how people always throw around the expression "Flee from Temptation". And although I do agree that we should Flee from temptation, I have a problem with the "wording" of the expression. We cannot run away from temptation. Especially when it has already made an influence on our lives.

In the film, Stephan is stabbed in the leg, and he begins to bleed. Once that blood has hit the air, the bear can smell it. (It's like the shark of the land). Stephan can try to run, he can try to hide, but he will fail. No matter how hard he tries he can't escape the bear, because it can already sense his weakness.

The same goes for our situation with the Devil. When our sins take a hold on us, we cannot just flee from them. The enemy will follow you wherever you go, and when you are at your weakest, he will attack.

In the film, Charles finally comes to the conclusion that the only way he and Robert can survive, is if they fight the bear. So, they sharpen up wooden spears, and fight off the bear.

What made it possible for these characters to fight off the bear?... The Spears. 

1 Peter 1:9 says, "Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. remember that your Christian brothers and sisters are going through the same kind of suffering you are."

Right here in the Bible it tells us to FIGHT BACK. "Stand firm against him"; so we are not to hide. We are not to run. We are to stand up to him like a bully trying to steal our lunch money.

"be strong in your faith"; We can't fight off a bear with our bare hands. We need spears. When we fight Satan, we NEED God. We cannot do it on our own. 

J.P. Charfauros created a marvelous analogy of our faith being represented as a sword and shield. He said, "If we have strong faith in God, our sword and shield shall be strong. But if our faith is lacking, it's like fighting with a plastic knife and a paper plate." 

We find our strength in God, so if you are in a situation where you feel trapped, turn to God. He is the only one with all the right answers. 

"all your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are."; If you feel like you are in a rut in which there is no escape, do not be discouraged. There are literally thousands of people going through the exact same thing as you. Have faith in this. It shows that there is a way out. And it's God. He is the way, the truth, and the light. Turn to Him.

"What one man can do, another can do."