Red Tails And Jesus (Part I)

A few months ago I took my grandson to see the movie “Red Tails”.  Before I took him, I read some reviews about the movie.  Most were unflattering.  As I watched the movie, I was impressed with the positive message of the movie.  The message of God, patriotism, and a strong mental attititude were portrayed in a rather positive light.  In many of today’s movies these qualities are often seen as   negative.  In the posts that follow we will discuss these traits from the movie Red Tails, and how they relate to the Christian life.  Please view the video below before you read on.

“Does it really matter Sir?”

In the first part of the trailer a pilot asks aloud if what they are doing really matters.  He asks it in a way that looks as if he is feeling self-pity .  His commander in short tells him to man up.  What did he expect.  He is an African-American pilot in a white man’s army.  He basically tells him to suck it up and act like the pilot that he is.  After all a hundred years of bigotry and racism was not going go away just because he had a respected position of pilot.

In our spiritual walk,  we may feel down or feel sorry for ourselves.  Many of us have been fed the lie that just because we are Christians we are supposed to have a peaceful, prosperous, and worry free life.  This is the furthest thing from the truth.  Jesus even said in John 15:18:

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

This may sound harsh, but I remind you of what the captain said to his pilot.  What did you expect.  When you signed up to follow Jesus you knew  there would be persecution and tough times.  If the world hated our Savior, then they will hate you too.  Do you think you have it rough?  Many of our fellow brothers and sisters around the world have it much worse.  We have it good in this country.  Do not be discouraged because our Lord and Savior has overcome the world, and HE promised that he would never leave us or forsake us.  Our God is good and powerful.  You are children of God, now let us act like it.

If you are going through tough times, it is not my wish to belittle what you are enduring.  My point is that we not wallow in self pity, but rather focus on our eyes on Christ.  He knows what you go through, and he will get you through to the other side.

until next time.

God bless

pastor greg t