Life Imitating Art Imitating Lucifer in Aurora
Mass murderers are often men with a high degree of intelligence. One of those men stormed into a Colorado theater with massacre on his mind. James Holmes didn't claim that the devil made him do it....but he did identify himself to police as the "Joker."
Batman's arch-villain owes much of his appeal to the "O.G." of villains....Satan himself, who was the "original gangster." Good versus evil first presented itself in the Garden of Eden some 6000 years ago, long before Hollywood realized how much money could be made by creatively presenting this age-old confrontation through various characters and story lines.
James Holmes seemed to fashion himself after Batman's rival....while Lucifer longed to usurp the power and glory of God. Both Holmes and Lucifer fell far short of their dream. In fact, their lack of contentment with what God had given them led both of them to throw it all away....while attempting to take as many with them as possible.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
It is fascinating how the Hollywood elites promote any "good vs. evil" film that can make money....except for "The Passion of the Christ." Hmm. The one movie that graphically portrays Satan's defeat and Christ's victory....that is the one movie that Hollywood couldn't stomach. What does that tell you about Hollywood's lack of spiritual discernment?
What it tells me is that the message of Christianity will never be celebrated by the elites of the world. But then again, why should it? It is a message that goes against the grain of human nature. Man doesn't want to be told what to do....not even by God.
In response and rebellion to God's commands and God's single plan of salvation, man sometimes demonstrates his potential to lash out the same way Satan did....with anger, malice, and cruelty to anyone he can hurt with his hatred. That's what James Holmes did....and in that sense, he was acting just like a demon-possessed man.
Jesus told us about the nature and motives of Satan. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." (John 10:10) Satan doesn't just do it....he delights in doing it. He sees is as a big joke....just like James Holmes did in that theater.
It reminds me of what the Romanian minister Richard Wurmbrand described in his book, "Tortured for Christ." He wrote, "I have seen communists torturing Christians and the faces of the torturers shone with rapturous joy. They cried out while torturing the Christians, 'We are the devil.'" (p. 37)
Wurmbrand, who was tortured himself for his faith, went on to write, "The cruelty of atheism is hard to believe. When a man has no faith in the reward of good or the punishment of evil, there is no reason to be human. There is no restraint from the depths of evil which is in a man. The communist torturers often said, 'There is no God, no hereafter, no punishment for evil. We can do what we wish.' I heard one torturer say, "I thank God, in whom I don't believe, that I have lived to this hour when I can express all the evil in my heart.' He expressed it in unbelievable brutality and torture inflicted on prisoners." (p. 38)
How can one man delight in evil and cruelty, and another man delight in good and mercy? We are all made in God's image, but we don't all surrender our desires and our goals to our Creator. Some live for self, while others live for Christ. Some people even attempt to escape the real world, as if that were possible, by living out the scenes they see acted out on the big screen. Their real world becomes deeply meshed with fantasy....and some of them snap, like James Holmes.
What happened in that movie theater in Aurora is nothing more than life imitating art imitating Lucifer.
Hollywood can create some incredible special effects, but it cannot heal the hearts of those who lost loved ones in Aurora. It cannot pick up the pieces now that someone has lived out the behavior which the "Joker" presents to us on film. Like those who live out their porn-fueled fantasies, James Holmes lived out his fantasy to be a real life Joker and killer. In the end, he was just a pawn of the "O.G." and he carried out his master's wishes.
Satan will use anyone he can get his clutches on. Some have given their minds to Satan through their allegiance to communism. Others have done so while living out their Hollywood or internet fantasies. Life imitating art imitating Lucifer will often have deadly consequences. Jesus brings healing and life....Satan loves killing and death. Good vs. evil....day after day, at least for now.
So what does Satan get as a result of his scheming and murderous ways? The endgame for him is already written and set in stone. Jesus put the final nail in Satan's coffin when he suffered and died for our sins on the cross. "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever." (Revelation 20:10)
So why imitate the works and the ways of a being who will spend eternity in burning sulfur? That will only destroy your life and the lives of others around you.
Instead of imitating "art" such as big screen villains or pornography, go for the gold and start imitating the faith of Christians like Richard Wurmbrand. Now there is a true story of heroism, tragedy, suffering, and ultimate victory. That's real world stuff....just like Aurora. The fantasy world of Hollywood and pornography will only lead you in the wrong direction....in the direction of death.
After describing Satan as a killer, Jesus said this about Himself: "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10) Satan and those who embrace his philosophy provide people with the fullness of death. Jesus and His followers bring others the fullness of life. Satan produces mass murderers. Jesus produces disciples who care for the poor, the neglected, and those who need a friend.
James Holmes went with the Joker. Now you get to choose. But just remember....whichever one you follow in life....that will be the one who leads you to your eternal residence as well.
