The Rite, What are you believing in?

Went to watch movie The Rite with the bf last Saturday.

Starring: Anthony Hopkins & Colin O'Donoghue *super hawtt*. 
I think its rated as horror movie. Not so scary as i thought. Fyi, im a scaddy cat ;p i dont watch horror movie. I went because I was attracted by the movie slogan, "You can only defeat it when you believe." Suprisingly, the movie was mind-blasting and life-changing! No joke.

Colin O'Donoghue

Giving some background of the movie, (Inspired by true events) American seminary student Michael Kovak (Colin O'Donoghue) is a catholic theology student who study just for the sake of taking a cert but did not heard God's calling or experienced God before. He is reluctantly enrolled in a new exorcism course at a Vatican-affiliated university in Italy that teaches priests how to distinguish between a genuine possession and mental illness. While there, Michael meets an unorthodox priest, Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins), who teaches him about the darker side of his faith. He experienced a lot of possessed case and he gradually believe in the existence of evil spirit, and at last, proved that the power of God is greater than demon.  


So, the whole story is about a "cold" believer, who doesn't even have faith or know what he is believing finally turn back to God. Wow! How impactful is that! 


Michael, signify most of us, who tag ourselves as "Christian", that actually only know about the existence of God in our head but doesn't really have relationship with Him. We often doubt about Him and His almighty power. We say we believe in Him but admit it we rather believe in ourselves. We always do what we can first then only we ll turn to Him for final solution.


"Always believe in God because some answer you just cant find in Google." Amen.

Like Michael, even though he saw possession happened in front of him, he still refuse to believe and insist it is a symptom of mental illness . He challenged the evil spirit with his own intelligent. What is this? Proud. Many times we are just like him, isn't it? We try to find prove, we are proud. We only believe when it is proven. Sometimes we even denied the truth. But the bible says,  
Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. (John 20:29)

Besides, the movie portraits the demon well. Very cunning, very smart, knows bible well, he knows man's heart well too. Yup, undeniable, demon knows what we have done and he likes to use your sins to accuse u! All he want is just shaken your faith. In the movie, the demon keep brings up the sins, the past of Michael everytime when he tried to do exorcism. The demon even try to persuade Michael that he is greater than God, Michael's sins are unforgiven, he is not worthy to have the power to do exorcism and God failed His promises. He makes Michael feel so so so depressed. He tries every single way just to draw us away from God and give up following God.  Wa.. scary-nya.


The demon, "So do you believe (the existence) in me??? "
Michael, "Yes I believe in you.... but at the same time I believe (the power and the promises) in God too!"


Wow.. such a powerful declaration with full of faith! With that faith, Michael cast out the demon successfully. 


If we are Michael, are we able to make the same decision that turn back to God? Or still doubting? Stumbled  by our guilt? I wanna ensure you that God is faithful, with mercy and love. There's no point fighting by ourselves. Its all in vain.

God is always there, waiting for us to turn back, just like a Father.

After the whole movie, I realized this is all planned by God. Its God's will to let Michael been through all these. To test his faith, to let him have self-realization, after that to set free all the bitterness in his heart (the death of his mom, cant get recognition from his dad, commit adultery). Most importantly, to let him know that God have never left Him and He is willing to accept him back. If God wants to call u, nothing can stop Him. Just like Jonah! U cant run away. So what for struggling? The only thing you can do is to surrender to Him. When u see no way, Jesus said He is the way. When u try to prove, Jesus said He is the truth. Better learn to live a successful life in obedience than in bitterness and hurt after much failed.

My God reigns, His love will never failed me; 
My God reigns, He's ruling over all;
In all my life, in every situation I know 
my God is GREATER, my God is over all!

I KNOW WHAT I AM BELIEVING IN, DO U?