(Disclaimer: I am in no way promoting this movie and highly advise parental guidance in watching any movie. These are simply my thoughts on Marvel's THOR)
I went into watching Marvel’s THOR expecting greatness; I was not disappointed.
Before we get very far, I have to admit I’m not a die-hard Marvel fan and have only seen three movies. So, while I’ll be spoiling some plots along the way, I can’t spoil the entire multi-movie saga.
The story, from the outset, grabbed my attention as an old man begins telling the incredible legend of Odin All-father, greatest of the Norse gods, defeating the frost giants and saving the weaklings of Midgard.
As we come to find out, the narrator is Odin himself, telling the story to his two young sons, Thor and Loki. At this time, Odin lets on to them that one day he will choose one of the two to become his successor as the King of Asgard, their realm.
Eager to prove themselves, both sons strive to become the best, while retaining their close relationship. But when a frost giant enters their realm and interrupts Thor's appointment as the next king, tragedy strikes.
Almost costing his friends and his brother their lives, as well as the peace of their realm, Thor is narrowly saved by his father. But the rescue comes at a cost: Odin promises to banish Thor from Asgard.
Stripped of his powers and honor, Thor is sent in disgrace to earth. In a brief moment after sending his son through a portal, Odin (holding Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir) whispers that “Whoever is worthy shall have the powers of Thor.” It isn't long before Mjolnir ends up in the desert outside a tiny town where Thor landed.
When begged to return Thor to Asgard, Odin says, “Nothing I do is without reason.”
In the end, of course, it proves for best when Thor returns and ends Loki’s reign in Asgard and is, himself, a changed man.
Aren’t our lives a lot like that?
Well, maybe not exactly. I hope not, anyway. We, like Thor and Loki, try so hard to be worthy by accomplishments and glory. Perhaps we’re like Loki, learned and cunning. Or maybe we're like Thor, popular and the best of the best at everything. We think that by our accomplishments we can earn our ‘kingship.’ In our cases, we probably aren’t vying for the throne against our siblings. But as Christians, we often work ourselves to death trying to be worthy of God’s love, forgiveness and adoption to sonship.
Like Loki in the movie, as he works to gain the throne, we probably tend to believe we can earn our worth in our Father’s eyes. But that is not so.
Stripped of everything, facing down a terror sent to earth by his brother called Destroyer, Thor realizes he must face the monster alone or risk the lives of the innocent people in the town, including Jane Foster.
At his weakest moment, without power or weapons, he stands up to face Destroyer alone. He embraces the fact that he is too weak. But it is by this that he becomes worthy enough to have his hammer back and finish off Destroyer, ultimately returning to Asgard and fixing everything.
Now, we can never be worthy on our own. Since Adam’s first sin we have been doomed. But like Thor in his weakness, we also are enough when we have nothing to offer. Paul sums this up in Romans 3:23-24 when he writes:
“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came through Christ Jesus.”
God chose people like Moses, a disgraced prince of Egypt turned simple herdsman, to become one of the greatest leaders of one of the most significant events in history leading up to Christ.
Moses, Thor, and even we ourselves can never be enough to deserve forgiveness or to be worthy. For us, the modern church, if we are saved then we are no longer blemished by sin in God’s sight. He has forgotten it completely. Our slates are wiped clean! And if God loves us even before we believe, he must continue to love us after we are forgiven!
Unlike Loki believed, you can't ever be good enough on your own. No amount of works can by your salvation. Forgiveness is a gift, and one that God offers freely.
I hope you've enjoyed this week's post! Please feel free to comment and share! And as always, Ad Lucem.
-L.E.Levens
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