Read Time: 2 minutes
Christmas is right around the corner, and the musical, holiday-themed movies are hitting theaters and streaming apps everywhere. One of the new Christmas movies ‘Spirited’ stars Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell.
The film brings to life the Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” in a modern light. The movies came out in theaters on Nov. 11, 2022 with mixed reviews from viewers. The story behind “A Christmas Carol” and “Spirited” is a group of afterlife spirits that come together to help the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet-to-Come redeem souls that are still on earth.
The Christian gospel is at the heart of the story with a message of redemption, but it is not intended to be a religious movie. In the original novella, Scrooge encounters the three spirits from the after life that reveal to him overtime the innocence he has lost over the years because of life events.
Often the Holy Spirit comes to us to soften our hearts to receive the message of salvation. In our own lives we faces obstacles and trials that can harden our hearts and put veils over our eyes, to live bitter or angry lives.
The goal of the movie is for the spirits to reach Ryan Reynolds who plays Clint Briggs, a media consultant with a bad reputation. Through the course of the movie the spirits attempt to open Clint’s eyes to the emotions he has tried to suppress over time. Without spoiling the end of the film, the heart of the matter is redeeming souls while they are still on earth.
This is the heart of God for the world. Hebrews 1 tells us that God sends angels to the earth to minister to those who will inherit salvation. There is a part we play in matter. Are you opening up your heart to God today? Even as Christians we try to keep the pain and suffering tucked in a box and we don’t bring it to Jesus. He already knows how we feel and why we feel that way but He waits for us to come to Him and ask for help.
The beautiful message held within “Spirited” and “The Christmas Carol” is that no soul is too far gone to be redeemed! As you enter into this holiday season to spend time with friends and family remember that message. There may be someone in your life who you feel is too far gone to be saved, but they aren’t. Think of the life of Paul, once known as Saul. Paul murdered Christians in the name of his religion but even he wasn’t too far gone. After Paul’s encounter with Jesus, his life was changed forever.
Living inside of you is the hope of glory Himself and you are a walking breakthrough for someone else, even the ones you think are too far gone. {eoa}
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Shelby Bowen is an assistant editor for Charisma Media.
