God’s Purpose in Using Films like Avatar

Avatar has sold over 2 billion dollars worth of tickets. It is closing in on 2.5 Billion and it would not surprise me to see Avatar making 3 Billion dollars when it goes to DVD. That is a lot of impact on the thinking and feelings of the people of the world. With all of this impact how does God see movies like Avatar? Does He like it, or dislike it?

We know from Scripture that God likes that which is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report. He wants us to think on these good things. Philippians 4:8 Many who have seen the movie would say that all of these good things are displayed in Avatar. The people, who have seen Avatar, would say that all of the good things are there, and that they were blessed by the story line and all of the wonderful scenery, the heroism, and the determination to do right though everything is against the truth. But we still don’t know if God likes movies like Avatar.

God says the following in I Corinthians 9:19-23 through His prophet Paul:
19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

It was Paul’s purpose to be anything and do anything that would allow the gospel out to the people of the world so that they would choose to select it. Paul became a servant, a Jew, to them that are without the law, anything to win people for the gospel’s sake. That is God’s plan as well. He will do most anything, as long as it does not deny His laws and His ways of conducting business. God wants His children to see that He loves them and that wants to do what is best for them. God may not like fantasy but if people are determined to see it He will work with them the best that He can.

God also says:
Philippians 1:18
“What then? Notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.”

God wants His people to see and know the truth. But God will use any and all meetings to stimulate some to ask questions about God and then He can give the answers that they need and help them to find Him when they search for Him with all of souls. So God is willing to use movies like Avatar. He prefers to use the Bible and His people to proclaim the truth. But if people will not use His avenues, God will use the avenues people like to move them to ask questions about Him.

Another text on how nature moves us is found in Psalms 19:1-6
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

Nature reveals God and encourages people to ask questions about Him. Avatar shows us the beauties of Pandora. We experience our longing for Eden when we see Pandora, for Eden is our home. We still have genetic/spiritual connections to Eden our original home. Whenever we see something as beautiful as Pandora, God is trying to get us to see Him in nature and to remind us of the experience, the longing for Eden restored.

God wants to reveal Himself to us in nature. Romans 1:19-21 reveals this thought to us:
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

God has chosen to use nature as a revelation of God. When we study nature, and get into harmony with it we can see God. When we hear His voice we are ready to accept these messages as true things.

There is much beauty in Avatar, heroism, love, joy, adventure, success, victory over evil. God is calling to each person to come back to Him. He promises to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from unrighteousness. He wants to stimulate our hearts so that we will seek to know Him for ourselves.

One final thought about the ways God uses to draw us to Him. In Daniel 3 the story is told about Nebuchadnezzar, the king of ancient Babylon. He had been granted a dream by God to tell him about his future and his kingdom in Daniel 2. Nebuchadnezzar did not like the idea of his kingdom ending so he decided to build a statue of the image in his dream and instead of many metals Nebuchadnezzar would build his image out of solid gold. When doing this he thought to bring all of the leaders of his kingdom to show them the vision, or the movie that he had prepared. If anyone did not like it, or bow down to his image he would throw into an actual furnace and burn them to death. God had three of His people on sight and they protested against this blasphemy of idolatry and they would not bow down to the image on command. When Nebuchadnezzar heard this he was very angry and threatened to kill the three men. They stood fast and said that they would not bow down to the image, regardless of what the king would do to them. The king responded by casting them into the furnace. By the very act of throwing these servants of God into the furnace Nebuchadnezzar created the real event that moved people to see things God’s way. We do not know how many people have chosen God because of the scenes Nebuchadnezzar thought to create but we do know that when feeble man creates an alternative to God’s plan, God will use the very plans of man to bring people to Him.

Avatar is a beautiful movie about a fantasy place in the mind of James Cameron. He thought to make a commercial success and to perhaps influence people to see what he wants them to see. I believe God is using Avatar, the creation of man, to accomplish a larger purpose. I believe that Avatar has reminded people of the ancient symbols of the Garden of Eden, the Trees of Life, and the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Avatar has reminded people that there is a God out there that wants to know us and to work with us so that all of the beauties of Pandora will be experienced in the Earth made new. All that Pandora offers in the imagination, God offers to grant us in reality. Today is our opportunity to communicate our desires to God and He will help us reach the goals He has put into our hearts. God wants to have us be with Him. Will you take advantage of this offer?