A Lesson From Tolkien
I have always been a fan of the Lord of the Rings books and movies, since being a little boy they have captured my imagination. Yet, there is one scene in particular that has always moved and reminded me of a lesson which Christian’s ought to keep on the forefront of their mind today. The scene comes from the end of the Lord of The Rings: Fellowship of the Ring. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli have just had one of their friends die; and they have come to the realization that two of their friends, Marry and Pippin, have been captured by the enemy. The scene starts with Gimli stating, “Then it has all been in vain. The fellowship has failed.” Aragorn, recognizing the dire situation they are in and the need to encourage and guide his friends, responds, “Not if we hold true to each other. We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we have strength left. Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light. Let's hunt some Orc.”
If you didn’t know, J.R Tolkien was a huge believer; as well as one of the instrumental people in C.S Lewis’s life who helped lead him to the Lord. The Lord of the Rings is filled with both subtle and not so subtle hints to Christian lessons and Biblical truths that Christians would do well to recognize and know today.
Critics might say this scene comes mainly from the movie, but I would argue for them to read the books and see the closeness to the fictional tale given. Nevertheless, this scene has a great lesson that I want to quickly remind believers about today.
Many believers have seen the status quo of the Christian world fall apart, before there were places one could go and still be in a welcoming community, we now find ourselves in an hostile environment. To hold to a Christian world view today is to be considered a prime target by the world. Many believers see what is going on and have acclaimed, “Then it has all been in vain.” They have bought into the lie that the enemy is going to win. The enemy believes that they have won, they discard that God will one day rise up for His name sake and deliver what He has promised. Just look at what the Psalmist says the enemy declares,
Psalms 10:3-11 “3 For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD. 4 In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.” 5 His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them. 6 He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.” 7 His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. 8 He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; 9 he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. 10 The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might. 11 He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”
What arrogance! In research for this post we even found an entire site dedicated to the rejection that Jesus will ever come back. The enemy believes they have won! For some Christians, this will seem catastrophic, what preconceived ideas have failed.
Yet, for those who understand the times, who know that things are not falling apart but are falling into place for the final act of this age. We must be vigilant! Now is not the time to lament for our preconceived ideas, but to firmly stand on the Word of God. We need to look at our brothers and sisters who are crying out, “Then it has all been in vain. The fellowship has failed” and answer back “Not if we hold true to each other.” God has not abandoned us, why should we abandon each other? In fact God’s Word tells us in these times to encourage one another.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-18 “9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
He is coming back for us, we need to keep the love, live for God, and in how He has instructed us to. We need to encourage one another knowing that the time is coming for the end of the age, our adventure might seem bleak but this is only the first act!
However, there is more for us to be doing, Matthew 28 clearly states we have our marching orders from God and we are to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to all who will listen. Matthew 28:18-20 “18 And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”
Just like Aragorn, we need to remind those around us that we have family and friends who still need Jesus, “We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we have strength left,” and we need to be about our Lord’s business. The book of Jude states in verses 20-23, “20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” Older and more mature believers need to seek out those who are new to the faith and help establish them in what the Word clearly states. Seek out those who do not know the Lord and share the gospel so they can see how they can be saved from eternal torment and death. This adventure we are on has eternal consequences which requires our utmost for His highest.
Believers need to shed what this World has to offer, “Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light.” If you are focused on this world you will be focused on worldly things, yet if you are focused on God you will be focused on what He desires. Romans 8:5-6 “5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” It has become more apparent as the world that Christian’s once knew transforms, the more those who were solidly attached to it struggle to find a solid foundation. Instead of being ready for the Lord’s work, they have thrown weight after weight on their backs and are burdened by the daily struggles and worries of this world. If only they would rely on Christ and see how liberating He is, then they would truly know the truth behind what Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, “28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
The final statement that encourages our hero’s to save their friends is, “Let's hunt some Orc.” As stated before, while not scripture it is founded firmly on principles that Christian’s would do wise to recognize. Our Heavenly Father has already told us we are the victors and that when we are about the Father’s business and in the God’s will, nothing will prevail against us. We need to be active and without hesitation. We can see this foundational truth in Matthew 16:13-18, “13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Believers need to be encouraging our brothers and sisters that now is our time to shine, so later others can look back and be encouraged by our heroic stories and how God was able to use us for the noble cause of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people. Our enemy will flee at the slightest sound of God being on the move, let us go back and look at Psalm 10 and see what the enemy doesn’t realize. Psalms 10:12-18 “12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. 13 Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”? 14 But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none. 16 The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. 17 O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear 18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.”
In conclusion, I hope this post has helped to lift your spirits, knowing that we have a God who loves us and very much wants what is best for us. And even though Lord of The Rings is fictitious, the real life principles are not. All is not lost, Christians need to hold true to each other in encouragement and love, we need to be seeking to save those around us from torment and death, and we need to discard the worldly desires for our Heavenly perspective. We have a job to do “Let’s hunt some Orc!”
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming
JL