A great philosopher named Spongebob Squarepants once claimed: “When you use your imagination you can do anything.”
Well, the makers of the new videogame Injustice: Gods Among Us sure used their imagination to the extreme!
You don’t have to be a gamer to appreciate the thought that went into the plotline for Injustice. To give you just a taste – there are alternate realties, so characters can actually battle their counterparts, Batman can stand toe to toe with Superman, and Metropolis gets nuked.
Like I said-
Imagination!
Games like this easily garner a huge following for several reasons; creativity, excitement and the ability to dive head first into a cosmic conflict probably top the list. Yet I believe there is another element of fascination that captures the imagination of most people simply because of the possibilities.
I’m talking about alternate realities, also known as parallel universes. While much of that discussion typically involves quantum physics and a nerdy penchant for all things Star Trek, most of us have thought about the “what might have been” questions had we made different choices.
What if I had gone to this school instead of the one I’m at?
What if my family had moved to a different state when I was little?
What if my parents hadn’t gotten divorced?
What if I had turned left instead of right?
It’s interesting, because Jesus Christ Himself talked about a spiritual version of parallel universes. Check this out and see if you agree:
I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will be able to come in and go out. They will find everything they need. A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good (John 10:9-10).
Jesus is obviously using a figure of speech when He describes Himself as a “gate” – and what He means is that He is the true and only entrance into salvation. When you place your trust in Jesus alone for salvation, you enter into a relationship with God that saves you from guilt and hopelessness in this life, and also keeps you safe from hell in the life to come.
But did you notice that He makes a contrast? He mentions “the thief” – who is Satan, and this is where the parallel universes come into the picture:
A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good.
This short sentence lays out the two paths that every man, woman and child on earth must choose between, and the two “universes,” if you will, that parallel each other on Planet Earth.
A life given over to the pursuit of self-indulgent pursuits, greed and me-first, selfish ambition is an existence in the realm of the thief – Satan. He rules his evil domain for his destructive purposes, and we all see the results of people’s lives who have had their joy stolen, their passion for life killed and the core of their soul destroyed.
But the life spent listening to Jesus’ invitation to come and follow Him creates an existence that is “full and good.” Or here’s the way another translation of the Bible puts it:
I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance – to the full, till it overflows (John 10:10 AMP).
Trusting in Jesus and giving your life to His leading transports you into a universe of God-given contentment and an overflowing joy that is unfathomable unless you have experienced it. Here is where the injustice of the cross was conquered with the Resurrection of Christ. Here is where our bondage to the cruel ruler of this world was cast off by the God who took on flesh and walked among us.
So what universe do you live in? Use your imagination for a minute and picture your life moving forward with a clear sense of commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ and His calling to fight the real injustices in the world. This is no game, my friends, and the stakes are higher than we can comprehend.
Know that if you focus your life on Jesus Christ and THE Cause of making disciples who make disciples, your words and actions will echo into eternity and your reward will be secure when the real “game over” appears on the screen of your life!
Flashpoint: Ignite Into Action
This week, pray and look for opportunities to bring up the idea of different realities. Talk about how our choices profoundly impact our destinies. Ask God to open a door to share the gospel and help your friends find the real and abundant life Jesus offers.
Accelerant: Fuel for THE Cause
Pray: Jesus, thank You for being the Gate that we can enter for salvation. We ask that You help us hear Your voice so we don’t follow the thief down the paths of destruction. Give us bold words to challenge the injustices of the world in Your Name.
Read: Romans 1:16. For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.
Get: Cue Lines…It’s Time to Act. Looking for a way to creatively present Biblical truth that has lasting impact? Pick up a copy of Dare 2 Share’s skit book, Cue Lines. These 16 humorous, heart-wrenching skits and dramas will make you laugh or make you cry. And will always make a point.
Youth Leader’s Discussion Questions:
Big Idea:
Our world has parallel universes that reflect the destruction of Satan and the abundant life of Jesus. We must choose Jesus’ call to fight the injustices of Satan’s kingdom through sharing the gospel and living for THE Cause of Christ.
Key Scripture:
John 10:9-10
ALT-ernative Questions:
- Would you want to play a game like Injustice? Why or why not?
- Why do people fall prey to listening to the thief?
- How have you experienced the abundant and full life in Jesus Christ?
- In what ways could you apply this Soul Fuel to THE Cause?
