Whose Glory?

One of my favorite "modern" movies (produced after the year 1960) is the Spielberg film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Not only is it a great father-son story about alienation and reconciliation between Indy and his dad Henry, it's also a story that suggests tension within a number of deep theological issues.

Holy grail-lore expert Prof. Henry Jones is missing from a privately financed hunt for the cup of Christ. Archaeologist-adventurer Indiana Jones hurries to Venice, Italy in order to find his missing father. Suddenly, unidentified assassins begin attacking him, thinking that, like his dad, Indy is seeking the holy grail. They are members of a secret band of soldiers sworn to safeguard the secret of the grail's whereabouts with their lives.

During this action-packed story, two key confrontations stand out. First is the meeting of the chief of the secret band with Indy, where the chief asks him: "Why do you seek the cup of Christ? Is it for His glory...or for yours?" Indy assures the man that all he wants is to find and rescue his father. Informed of the location where Henry is being held, Jones continues his quest to free him.

Later, after rescuing his dad, the two of them are on the run to evade the Nazis who pursue them. At a crossroads--one leading back to Venice, the other to Berlin--Henry insists that they go to Berlin to retrieve his grail diary, in which there are clues that will safely guide them to find the grail. Indiana strongly objects to venturing into the Nazi stronghold, but Henry counters: "The quest for the grail isn't archaeology. It's a race against evil." It seems that the Germans also want the cup of Christ to help them capture the world.

Fanciful grail legends aside, one must admit that the stakes are even higher than world domination, when it comes to deciding WHOSE glory each of us is seeking, whatever our personal "quest" may be. When Henry Jones suddenly slaps his son in the face after Indy, in frustration, uses "Jesus Christ" as a curse, and tells him, "That's for blasphemy!", he suggests a world and life view that includes an overpowering belief in God. Henry's quest for the grail is not for his own glory. He has something much greater and higher in mind. He is on a divine mission.

I believe that a compelling reason so many are doing all they can to avoid God, Christ, and the church, in our day, is that they find it impossible to live with the idea of an all-powerful Being who designed and created and sustains this universe for HIS glory and not for OURS.

Even worse than those who flat-out deny God's reality are those who vainly attempt to re-define who He is. This includes folks in so many of our churches who pick and choose among the Lord's biblical attributes to cobble together a Frankenstein-like deity of their own liking. A tame, toothless God they can live with. A God who lets humans "fulfill their own destiny" or "just follow their hearts." A grandfatherly semi-supreme Being who doesn't really judge anyone for his or her sins.

Asking myself, "Will this glorify God...or myself?" in regard to what I am thinking, doing, saying, seeking, is probably the most important question I could possibly ponder. And the one I'm least likely to ask. Why? Because the remaining sin within me is resting too comfortably. Because I deplore confrontations (especially with myself!). And, honestly, because I am normally too insulated against the glories of God's creation that shout, scream and sing about the glorious Being HE truly is!

The Apostle Paul wrote to his son in the faith, young Timothy: "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith." He claimed that a crown of life was awaiting him in glory. Heaven is where God's people will graciously be permitted to share in the glory that is Christ's. But for now, we are on a divine quest. A quest for HIS glory. Like Henry Jones told his son, "It's a race against evil!" To focus on heavenly glory, I must confront and kill the evil WITHIN.

Our Captain, King Jesus, is coming again, perhaps sooner than we imagine. He will be leading his armies into the true "Last Crusade" to deliver his people and crush their enemies. When He comes, will he find you "seeking HIS glory...or YOURS?"

MNA
4/2/2020