CAUGHT UP IN EMOTION…
Way back in 1967 when I was eleven years old my youngest brother was thirteen and together we went to see the very scary movie Wait Until Dark. It was the first time I remember seeing Alan Arkin. He played the bad guy; the more than bad guy. But I found him very handsome; still do. I knew he was playing a wicked character and that I knew nothing about the real man. Now I know a little bit: Alan is Jewish.
God loves His Jewish people. Israel is blessed by God and Messiah comes from Israel’s descendants. All Israel shall be saved: the Israel who follow the covenant God has given them. It is an everlasting covenant. No wonder I have such an agape love for Alan Arkin.
As my brother and I were watching this most frightening story between three ungodly men (two who were unwillingly brought into a plot of murder and drugs) and a beautiful blind woman… I saw the battle for survival she was in which she was unaware of until evil began to unravel in this story.
Selah.
She was completely innocent of any wrongdoing of the murdered woman whose body was in her closet. She didn’t know. She first met one of the three evil men whose character was so disarming to her that his pleasant voice and kind words covertly comforted her… Claiming he was an old Marine buddy of her husband Sam, she most stupidly invited this stranger into her home where she was blind, all alone and ignorant. Here in itself is a very good lesson.
As the movie progressed the lighting, the music, the plot became increasingly more foreboding. My favorite memory of this movie was with my brother, whom I was great friends with, jumped at a most frightful scene! He was not the only one, I guarantee you!
Over the years I have seen this movie more than once. I know that in real life these people were not murderers and I appreciated much of their individual acting talents in other stories and genres.
And, as I have seen this movie more than a few times I only noticed in my last viewing something I had never before… Of course even at eleven years old I knew Richard Crenna was not truly pushed down some stairs after Alan Arkin’s character had ‘murdered’ him. Years and years later I saw it: as Harry Roat, Jr. pushed the dead man’s body down the stairs with little effort, my eyes caught sight of the fake hair and fake body of Mike Talman, the one with the comforting voice.
It is very understandable that people wouldn’t notice this at all, possibly ever. And especially not for the first time, I am certain they would miss it. Why? This show was masterfully done in all aspects: the plot has many lessons. As a child of God good and evil should always be on our minds. Prayers for the repentance of the wicked, such as true-life people who mirror the same type of actions of these three evil men, should be upon our hearts… Remember, beloved, there is only one unforgivable sin, never denying, repentance is mandatory. Not open for discussion.
Selah.
In any horrifically dangerous situation we should care and help the victims first when opportunity presents itself. Pray. Call the police, don’t just stand there and do nothing. Ask God how to deal with anything He has enabled you to do. Secondly we should remember our enemies need Christ Jesus: they need to repent and live a good life. We need to pray for them in many ways and we need not fear them: they, beloved, are in great peril, not us.
Selah.
Satan wants you caught up in the emotion of the moment: terror. Terror is the tool he uses when wicked people cooperate. What’s the answer to terror? Fight the good fight; don’t walk by sight, walk by faith. Before you react first ask God what’s the way out, for He will give it to you.
Don’t be mistaken, there is a time to kill, to defend yourself for no one has a right to murder you. Great martyrs of Christ have chosen to give their life for the good fight, not being a victim. The soul needs to crucified, your spirit is perfect if you are in Christ.
Psalm 91 is just one of the great tool of words God has given you from His Word. I highly urge you to learn it and speak it at least once a day and again when you feel any attack – of any kind – the blood of Jesus applied to and relied on the situation, any horrific situation, is your refuge and fortress!
SCRIPTURES FOR THIS JOY STORY
Genesis 17:7
I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
1 Peter 2:13-15
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
Psalm 34:7
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Growing up in a home without the love for God, an invalid father, heavy financial hardships, and tremendous (sometimes dangerous) discord is always difficult. Add on to that extreme shyness, a feeling of inferiority, and some may think this girl was rejected. But God’s hand was on her and His heart was for her. Today, Ann Marie Turner has performed many great services in Jesus’ name for the love of God and man; and for herself! She has ministered in the male correctional for over ten years. Along with this website, Ann is the author of Joy Stories, Volume One and The Free Incarcerated Man. Writing about the joy of the Lord and the victory that is available for a willing soul is one of Ann’s now greatest joys! Ann’s prayer for you is to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. Celebrate the God of the Bible and your personal victories in Christ unceasingly! Revelation 12:11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.