Somebody mentioned it a week or so ago and since then, I’ve been thinking about the 1989 American cult movie favourite Weekend at Bernie’s.
If you know anything about this comedy (and its 1993 sequel), you’ll know it’s hardly a cinematic classic. Basically, Larry and Richard do their best to make it seem like their corrupt boss (Bernie) is alive and partying because the boss ordered them to be killed unless he – the boss – stays alive.
What follows are various hijinks as Bernie the corpse appears to be partying at his mansion and even having sex. Oh, and Bernie has a habit of disappearing, causing no end of trouble for Larry and Richard. You’ve probably figured out by now that this ain’t Casablanca or Citizen Kane.
But something about the movie’s theme struck me. We all are trying to hide something, to put on appearances and make things seem real to others when we know very well the opposite is true.
For Larry and Richard, it was making a corpse appear to be alive. For you and me, it might be pretending we’re better people than we really are. More compassionate and less judgmental, more generous and less petty, more interested in doing what’s right and less interested in serving our own greedy “needs”.
We know the truth, but if we can just fool others, then we’ll:
- qualify for the raise in pay
- get the girl (or guy) we desire
- gain the favour of someone with power and influence
- earn the promotion we’ve long wanted
- win the respect of others.
Now consider this: if you believe in a creator, maybe that creator is personally interested in YOU. And that creator knows you better than you know yourself.
Followers of Jesus of Nazareth (who many people believe is the Son of God) believe God knows everything about us. We also believe He is perfect and that’s His standard for judging every person on this planet.
If that’s the case, what are you going to do with the knowledge that all the flaws you’ve carefully hidden from the world are absolutely out in the open with Him? How are you going to explain them away?
You may not like the answer, but here it is: you CAN’T. No one on this planet, no matter how virtuous they seem, can. No one is good enough to get into Heaven.
So here’s the good news: you don’t have to be. God made a way for every person to spend eternity with Him, no matter how good or bad they are. And that way is Jesus.
By dying on a Roman cross, Jesus paid the penalty for EVERY bad thing we’ve done and EVERY good thing we’ve failed to do. Our only obligation is accept what He did. Believe in what He did. And know that He is alive and ready to work in your heart RIGHT NOW.
Interested? Post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.
Frank's Cottage 
Another good post. Opening yourself up to God and letting him show you your faults is one of the most painful but necessary parts of being a Christian.
It’s the only way to true freedom, to be relieved of deeply hidden idiosyncrasies that imprison the mind. Even better when you turn around an help others with the same issues.
“By dying on a Roman cross, Jesus paid the penalty for EVERY bad thing we’ve done and EVERY the good thing we’ve failed to do.”
To quote Doug Stanhope – “‘Jesus died for your sins.’ How does one affect the other? I hit myself in the foot with a shovel for your mortgage. I don’t get it.”
The cross was a very popular form of execution in Roman times – many people died that way. What was so special about Jesus’s death? He came back to life three day’s later – rather negates the point doesn’t it?
Hi David: a price had to be paid for the wrong things we’ve done and right things we failed to do. We could never, ever pay that price. But Jesus did it for *anyone* who is willing to believe in what He’s done and follow Him.
Jesus’ resurrection proves His divine nature. Nothing is negated through that miracle.
Sorry for the (very) late reply Frank.
I still don’t get it. You say we could never, ever pay the price, but if the price was a mere execution on the cross, many, many people paid that price in Roman times. So, again, what was so special about Jesus’s execution?
Good question, David. The difference between Jesus’ execution and every other crucifixion carried out by the Roman Empire is this: Jesus was absolutely perfect. Not a single “sin”. Zero. Without even a tiny blemish. Who else in all of history can make that claim?