I just finished watching the movie Deep Impact, a movie I have seen many times before. I am drawn to this movie not necessarily because of the storyline, which is compelling (the earth threatened by the impact of a giant comet), but by the character sketches presented in the movie; about the reaction of a population when faced with imminent death.Death is not a subject that is discussed openly in our society. For obvious reasons. To most people death is very scary. It is natural that most people don’t want to die. The nature of life is such that we are instinctly created to strive for life. But it is also obvious that death is a part of life. Our physical bodies are born to die according God our creator: By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19 NIV). The movie Deep Impact I think captured fairly accurately the expected reaction of people if faced with an “extinction level event” such as what faced them in the movie. In the movie there was widespread fear and panic. People were also shown doing heroic things both personally and professionally in the face of imminent death. As you would expect from Hollywood, there were minimal scenes of spirituality displayed by the characters, but there were two noticeable exceptions. The US President was shown acknowledging his belief in God and offered a national prayer taken from the Book of Numbers Chapter 6: The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." (Numbers 6: 24-26 NIV). Also, a “modern day Noah’s Ark” was created in caves to house the selected people and animals that would remain underground protected from the destruction of the comet on the earth' surface. I found it humorous to note the references to Noah’s Ark when many in popular culture (and Hollywood) claim to believe in evolution vs. the creationism that accompanied the Noah’s Ark story in the biblical Book of Genesis. I won’t describe the end of the movie for those who may not have seen it yet, but it is well worth your time.
Another reason why I think I’m drawn to this movie is the fact that the Bible predicts that an event similar to what is described in the movie will actually occur. This is described in the Book of Revelation about the terrible events that will occur at the end of the age during which God will “pour out His wrath and judgment” on an unbelieving and decadent world: When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets; Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them. The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter. (Revelation 8:1-2; 6-10 NIV) A scary thought isn’t it. This is what God says will happen to the world at some point in the future (perhaps the not so distant future).
I write this post because I pray that some reader who has not accepted Jesus’ authority over their lives may stop and consider what this will mean for them if they persist. It is never God’s intention for any person to suffer wrath: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2nd Peter 3:9 NIV). Though death is a scary thing, God wants us to give thought to our death if only to exhort us to acknowledge Him and live for Him: A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. (Ecclesiastes 7:1-2 NIV)