“A Life You Love”

SPOILER ALERT, IF YOU PLAN ON WATCHING THE NEW TALE OF TWO CITIES SERIES ON MGM…DON’T READ THIS!

John 10:10 ~ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

I just watched the new Tale of Two Cities on MGM.  I never read much of Charles Dickens, because it was usually depressing.  This story is about a love triangle between Sydney, Lucie and Charles.  Sydney is a drunken London Lawyer. Lucie is a French citizen that flees to London as a child when her father is arrested right before the French Revolution. She is led to believe that her father was killed. Charles is a French citizen that helps smuggle other French citizens that are caught in the resistance to London.  He is arrested when a ship captain lies about him being a French spy.  He gives Lucie a message before he is arrested that makes her believe her father is alive.  She hires Sydney to represent Charles to get him released so she can get him to help her find her father.

In the progression of the story Lucie and Sydney fall in love and she finds her father.  It is also revealed that Charles is an heir to a noble family in France, which he denounces due to the cruelty of his father and uncle. Sydney, due to his family history and drunkenness, believes he is not good enough for Lucie and causes an unforgiveable scene at a family dinner. He comes back to apologize and begs her to save him from himself.  She tells him, she can’t save him. Later she falls in love with Charles and they marry.

               Several years later the French revolution concludes, and Charles’ beloved family servant is arrested back in France. He goes to try to free him and is arrested also for being a member of the notorious noble family.  Lucie goes to find a ruined Sydney and pleads with him to help her get Charles out of prison.  They travel to France but are unsuccessful in freeing Charles.  He is sentenced to execution by guillotine.  The day he is to be executed, Sydney goes to visit him and because they look so much alike, he convinces Charles to let him take his place.  Charles is convinced when Sydney reveals that Lucie is pregnant.

               Charles goes to Lucie and as they flee France, he gives her a letter from Sydney.  I have done some research and, the exact words of what was in this new series are not in the book.  However, as I heard these words I heard them as if Christ were speaking them to me.  On the outside of the letter it read, “A Life You Love”.

“I see you growing old, your life lived, your heart full. 

Knowing you were never loved more than on this day in this place.

When I opened my heart to you and last of all the world.

It is a far far better thing I do, than I have ever done.

It is a far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”

 (the last part was in the book).

               Sydney sacrificed his life so one woman, that he loved, could live a life she loved.  Christ sacrificed his life so all of humanity could live that life. His sacrifice was not just about us being able to spend eternity with Him.  His sacrifice also allows us to live this life, now, abundantly!  The enemy tries to destroy this life, because he knows, as children of God he cannot take our eternal life from us.  When I think about Christ’s sacrifice, I remind myself that He died so I could live. Not just in eternity with Him, but a life of freedom here on earth. A life free of brokenness, a life free of fear, a life free of despair, a life free of anxiety, a life free of guilt, a life free of condemnation, a life free of feeling worthless or unloved. This freedom is ours to take, but all too often we suffer with all of those arrows the enemy throws at us, because we think we deserve them. We may deserve them, but we don’t have to live with them.  We can be set free. How?  The only way anyone can be set free from the clutches and attacks of the enemy, is with a close, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.  Which takes sacrifice, takes time, takes focusing on what brings us into that intimacy with Him.  Daily bible reading, prayer and worship.  We all get busy; we all get distracted and that is exactly where the enemy wants us to be.  He knows that outside of that close intimacy with Christ, his attacks are more effective.  If our desire is to live a life we love…we can’t do it apart from Christ.  Freedom is waiting for us, if we would only take it!