Going Down

HaileeJune 29, 2017

I recently watched the movie, 47 Meters Down, which was not a good idea considering I already don’t enjoy being in the ocean… This movie just added to the anxiety I get just thinking about what can go wrong in the water… It also reminded me of something that everyone goes through… The experience of sin.

I’m letting you all know right now that there are SPOILERS ahead!

So, the movie starts out with two sisters on vacation. All seems fine and dandy until the older sister (Lisa) confesses to the younger sister (Kate) that her long-time relationship had ended because her boyfriend had said she was too boring for him.

In order to prove to Lisa’s boyfriend, back home, that she’s wild and fun, Kate decides they should go cage diving with great white sharks.

Before the sisters even get onto the boat, Lisa is already second guessing the idea. As soon as they’re on the boat, Lisa sees the condition of the cage and immediately wants out. As she heads into the boat’s bathroom while the men that are with them start to “chum the water.” They pretty much pour a whole bucket of bloody fish parts into the ocean to attract the great whites. When the younger sister, Kate, sees that this is happening, she brings up the fact that it’s illegal to do so… But she brushes it off because it’s time for her and Lisa to suit up, oxygen tanks and all.

Lisa is still freaking out until they are actually underwater in the cage together. When they first get down, under the water, Lisa is amazed by how clear the water is and how her boyfriend back home would lose his mind if he saw her now. Soon enough a great white shark swims past the cage and the sisters feel the cage shake.

This is where the movie gets crazy.

They let the men on the boat know that they felt the cage slip and that they would like to come back up. The only problem is that when the men begin to pull them up, the cable breaks and both the sisters fall all the way to the bottom of the ocean, 47 meters down.

Once they’re down there, they go through a lot of obstacles, from using up all the air in their oxygen tanks to great white sharks almost breaking through the cage.

Now, I won’t tell you how it ends, but I will tell you how this story relates to sin.

First of all, I’d like to share with you how John Piper defines the sin.

“Sinning is any feeling or thought or speech or action that comes from a heart that does not treasure God over all other things.” – John Piper

According to God, sin is what separates us from Him.

Isaiah 59:2

But your iniquities have separated
you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you,
so that he will not hear.

So, If you’ve ever thought to yourself, would God approve of this behavior, and the answer is no, that behavior is something you want to stay far away from.

I once heard my youth pastor talk about when you’re a child and you want a cookie from the cookie jar, but mom already said no, so you go and try to sneak one. Your first instinct is to look around you and make sure the coast is clear, right? Well, if you’re ever in a situation where you have to look around you to make sure no one is watching or you have to go through a list of people that might find out or that would be disappointed in you, whatever you’re doing that you wouldn’t want others to see you doing, is probably not right in the eyes of God.

Remember, God is always watching over you. You can’t hide yourself, or your sin, from Him.

Hebrews 4:13

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Now, once you’ve made sin a habit, and you’ve started to “conceal” your sin from those around you, you might feel as if you’ve won. You might even begin telling yourself that what you’re doing is okay.

More than likely, you’ll also have a feeling of, “I don’t know about this, I think I want out,” but then something or someone might come along and trigger that sin again, or maybe you aren’t fully ready to give up that sin…

Just like Lisa had a gut feeling about their cage diving activity, Kate convinced her that was how she could get her ex-boyfriend back, so she jumped right in, although afraid of the consequences that might occur.

I’m going to let you in on something you should think about before you look around to see if anyone is watching…

The Bible tells us in Numbers 32:23 that we should be sure that our sin will find us out! No matter how sneaky you think you’re being or how “well” you believe you’ve concealed your sin, it will come out. Whether, you’re the one to tell someone about it to get help, or it comes down to someone finding out in whatever way… It will come out. Be sure of this.

Now, when you’re sin is found out or you’ve taken the initiative to end it, you are able to look back and see where your sin was holding you back from God’s work in your life.

But here’s one of the greatest gifts that God gave to you and me. A gift that He gave, so that everyone who ever sinned against Him, can receive His forgiveness!

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God loves each and every one of us so much that He gave His only Son so that we can experience Heaven one day.

Don’t hold onto your sin! It’s not worth it!

1 John 2:17

The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Galatians 6:8

Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

The Bible also says that Jesus is the only way into receiving this grace; He and He alone is the ticket to Heaven if you confess your sins to Him and ask Him to dwell in your heart!

God’s grace is abounding and unfathomable!

Proclaim that He is your Saviour and all your sins can be forgiven! He loves you so much, He wants for you to one day stand face to face with Him in His Kingdom!