the end of our beginning

To end our time of briefing in Los Angelos (Costa Mesa), our team along with the Japan team and some of the Bay area team decided to celebrate and relax by watching the midnight showing of Transformers. In fact, it was so relaxing that a lot of us ended up falling asleep during it. But of course, this movie wasn’t boring, we were just very tired. The movie provided a huge reminder for me as I began to think about what was in store for us as we were about to set off on our missions’ grounds in Hawaii, Japan, East Asia, and Bay area.

This wont be a spoiler by any chance, but this movie had some great fighting scenes. Sam wonders why he has to be involved with a battle that seems so much bigger than he is, later finding out that he is the source of it all. He watched and hid in fear as Optimus Prime defended and fought for his seemingly worthless human life, doing whatever it would take to keep him alive and away from the Decepticons. It was quite a scene when Optimus risked his life while fighting off over five transformers at the same time to protect the life of Sam.

I’m warning you right now, this will be cheesy, but stay with me. As Optimus Prime fought off over five Decepticons at once, I couldn’t help but think about the image of God fighting for us. It is the scene of being completely helpless compared to a power so much greater and incomparable to us. It is the feeling of not being able to do anything but sit and watch as our God submits his life to the point of death to defend our sinful lives. Sometimes we can’t do anything, and we need to allow God to go before us. We feel helpless at times, but it is in our helplessness that we realize the power of our Lord. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. (Ex. 14:14) When your understand that your efforts can only take you so far, then you see that your God has been fighting for you, defending you and protecting you from the evil one all along.

This picture I have in mind is also the picture I see when I read the beginning of Joshua. The encouragement God gives to Joshua is well known, but it’s always a good reminder. I can imagine the weight of stress that followed the death of Moses, and the wave of comfort Joshua felt while hearing God’s words. New responsibilities, new tasks, and new leadership. He had large shoes to fill and had to fulfill an overwhelming mission, but God said this:

“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.” Joshua 1:5-7

That passage comforts me as I think about the next six weeks coming up. God commands us to be only strong and courageous, and that is what I will be trying to be as we reach out to the people of this campus. God has been nothing but faithful so far. So as cheesy as this post was, I just wanted to express that I look forward for to what He has in store for us this amazing trip.