Last night I watched Book of Eli for the second time and I have to say that it has raised the bar for faith based movies. Spiritually I have been in a bit of a funk all week and this movie spoke to my heart and rocked me out of my spiritual lull. I am inspired!
When the screen faded to black and the credits began to roll, I sat frozen in my seat. My mind was reeling from the one-two punch of the movie’s spiritual theme and a stunning plot twist delivered just before the finish… that makes sense of everything!
Such a setting leads to some intensely violent showdowns between good-guy Eli (Washington) and the hordes of villains with tattered clothes and shredded morals.
It has been 30 years since the “flash,” and Eli has been walking westward the whole time carrying little more than a Bible, an iPod, a pair of battered sunglasses, a small arsenal — machete, sawed-off shotgun, automatic pistol, bow and arrows — and a peace that surpasses all understanding.
When we meet Eli, he is crossing the desolate landscape on a mission to deliver a Bible. He doesn’t know exactly where he’s taking it, but he’s certain he’ll know the place when he finds it. He is simply trusting the voice of God…
Meanwhile, he reads his precious Bible every day and is determined to keep it safe from marauders and thieves.
There is tremendous spiritual depth to The Book of Eli, with metaphors and allegories that allude to Saul’s conversion on the Road to Damascus, the power of the Holy Spirit, hearing God’s voice, the purpose of a prophet, and the nature of scripture.
BUT in-spite of all the spiritual metaphors the violence gives the movie a well-deserved R rating.
Washington is superb as the prophet on a mission, but The Book of Eli is not a one-dimensional movie hinging solely only his marquee name. For me, the movie was shockingly effective in how it delivered deep theological messages in such an unlikely way.
Here were some of the messages that impacted me:
1. We Walk by Faith Not by Sight. Eli is not affected by the temptations presented to him and he does not flinch in the face of really bad situations. His faith in God's voice is what leads him to accomplish the mission, no matter what comes in his way. 2. In our consumeristic society we need to fight for gratitude. Even though everything was lost Eli found a way to be grateful for the more important things in life. Companionship, prayer before a meal, water, food and the Bible. I need to be reminded to pause and be grateful for what I have instead of wanting more. 3. The Bible begins as a book you read but somewhere along the way gets in you and you become the Bible that those watching are reading. Eli was bruised and beat up but the word of God was In him, he was the living word! 4. Unswerving Devotion to the Mission. Eli new his calling and was determined God was helping him accomplish that which He called him to do. We spend so much time sitting and waiting but never actually joining God in His redemptive plan for the world. 5. The Mission is Hard but God gives you the strength to accomplish everything he has called you to do if you trust Him. I will leave you with this…Early in the movie he falls asleep to Al Green singing "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?" And how can you mend a broken heart? How can you stop the rain from falling down? How can you stop the sun from shining? What makes the world go round? How can you mend this broken man? How can a loser ever win? Please help me mend my broken heart And let me live again
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