THE COUNTING OF DAYS
Learning endurance can be easier to learn if you are watching endurance in action in a movie. This month I have been counting the omer and patiently waiting for the Day of Pentecost to arrive. Today’s omer count considers the trait of endurance.
As I’ve begun this process of counting the days, beginning on the the 2nd Day of Unleavened Bread, which is the third day after Passover and The Day of Early First Fruits of the Barley, I’ve also been studying the different attributes of God’s character. With this study I’m hoping to learn things that will help me, as a follower of Christ, do a better job of reflecting the love and righteousness of God The Father.
LEARNING ABOUT ENDURANCE
One character trait I have studied during this time is the trait of patient endurance.
The Greek word that is used to describe endurance is hypomone. This word is a term that best describes how a loyal servant knows their place. It speaks of how overcomers are able to stand steadfast within that place. A servant who knows their proper place and stands steadfast will not fail or waiver. They will endure with patience and perseverance.
Thus we come to understand that the journey to faithfulness is a long and windy road. This road definitely requires the character trait of endurance.
PAUL; SERVANT OF GOD
After Jesus (who was fully human and fully God), one of the best examples for being someone who truly lived out this definition of a patient and enduring servant of God is The Apostle Paul.
This fact was never so apparent to me as the day I found myself viewing the movie which honored Paul’s life. I took my Mom to see Paul, Apostle of Christ as a little birthday present. This movie actually turned out to be a present for both of us.
What a beautiful movie. It was a wonderfully descriptive and colorful portrayal of the life of Paul.
THE MOVIE CALLED PAUL; APOSTLE OF CHRIST
Of course; I have been a steadfast Jim Caviezel fan from the first moment I saw him acting in the very early productions of his career. I loved him in “I Am David” and “The Count of Monte Cristo.” I began following his career way before the filming of “The Passion of Christ.”
Most everyone agrees that The Passion of Christ was his greatest moment of glory. However, Jim Caviezel has experienced MANY moments of glorious acting. He can claim some really excellent work as an actor. Knowing this, I was very excited to be seeing his acting skills again in this movie about The Apostle Paul.
MEETING JIM CAVIEZEL
When Jim Caviezel filmed The Passion of Christ; God intersected our lives for only a few moments.
I, once upon a time, even had the opportunity to speak with Jim Caviezel on the phone. It became my privilege to invite him to a television studio where I once worked as Administrative Assistant to the Executive Producer and Executive Vice President of Studio Production. In the course of that short conversation, I was allowed the privilege of offering to help make his airline reservations for a trip to the studio to do some production work with us.
The whole scene around my phone conversation with Mr. Caviezel was actually a bit comical. I mention that because when I called he was in the shower. His sweet wife, Kerri, asked me to hold the phone. She then intercepted our conversations back and forth until he could get out of the shower and come to the phone.
I could hear the water running. The irony of it all occurred to me. I was actually speaking with one of the actors I admired most in the world, and he was taking a shower. Now when people ask me for the most amazing moments of my life, I smile and say I got to talk to Jim Caviezel when he was in the shower.
ADMIRING THE TRAIT OF HUMILITY
The studio I worked for was a not-for-profit religious organization. I cringed at the fact that I had to tell this famous and very admired actor that though we wanted him to come to the studio and do some production work with us; we could offer no salary and he would have to fly coach on the plane. Part of my job as a first contact for television guest was to explain this. It was because our organization was “non-profit.” We NEVER paid for people to fly first class.
God bless him, Mr. Caviezel very casually agreed to these terms without hesitation. Then he even thanked me for doing the work of ordering the airline tickets for him and arranging transportation during his up-coming visit. The man lived up to the humble person I had heard described by the media and others.
After he arrived at the studio, I actually got to meet him in person again. This was a meeting he held for us with a whole bunch of our producers and cameramen. They were all busy during his recordings for us. Each of them were doing their jobs inside the studio. The meeting was held so that he could actually take a few minutes of personal time to speak with those who were working so hard on his production.
IMMITATING A GREAT LEADER
I was actually the person in charge of hospitality for our guests; but somehow I got bumped down when Jim Caviezel showed up. A much more important person did a lot of what I would normally do for our guest. Again, more important people took care of his room and board, which were the other tasks I usually handled for our guests. I remembered his humility and tried my best to reflect his ways.
Anyway, my moment with him finally arrived. I asked for his autograph, then I asked him how he endured all the torturous filming he experienced while hanging on a cross. He smiled and said “Don’t tell anyone but I used a lot of Bengay and it actually helped with some of the pain.”
That was pretty much the extent of our relationship; but I was thrilled!
TWO AMAZING PEOPLE IN THE STUDIO
His time with us was all very brief and to the point; but it goes down in the history books of my life along with a few other amazing days which happened simply because God had strategically positioned me in the humble place of working for a living. I was just trying to make my mortgage payments. I had no idea there was going to be icing on the cake.
I’m sure the Caviezels would never remember me; but Jim and Kerri Caviezel’s trip to our small television studio in Irondale, Alabama was one of the highlights of that year for me and my fellow workers. I still display the book he signed for me of The Passion of Christ on our coffee table every spring around Resurrection Day.
All aspects of fame aside; my colleagues and I all found him to be a most humble and sincere person. He honestly put all the people around him at ease. There was this sincere impression that he did not like to feel he was any more important than anyone else in the room. His lovely wife exemplified the same sweet presence. She was quite charming. I could see the love of God in both of their eyes. My admiration for them only grew during those few days that they graced us with their presence. It was fun working in their shadows; maybe a lot like the way Luke might have felt about working with The Apostle Paul.
PAST PRODUCTIONS MAKE WAY FOR THE PRESENT
Naturally, I was very enthusiastic about the fact that Jim Caviezel would be playing in this new movie about The Apostle Paul which had been titled Paul; Apostle of Christ. This movie turned out to be an excellent production. I went into the theatre thinking I was bound to be disappointed because I had already seen the best of this type of production in The Passion of Christ.
I wasn’t disappointed at all! It was an excellent, very true to the facts type of production. The movie left us sitting in our seats at the end. No one wanted to move because we had just absorbed so many intense and emotional scenes in only a short amount of time. We had identified with the characters so heavily that we felt like we had been on the same emotional ride of struggles that they were experiencing.
I laugh at the fact that in the beginning of the production viewing, we all just assumed that Jim Caviezel would play the role of Paul. That was not the case. He played the part of the disciple named Luke; the physician who followed Jesus. Luke was very close to Paul. He visited him during his long stay in the prisons of Rome. Luke actually wrote down Paul’s words in order that the world could know his story.
OFF THE SCREEN AND INTO MY HEART FOREVER
So many things stood out in this movie.
The first thing I noticed, which we study from the scriptures all the time, but often pass over, is how the Christians of Rome banned together. They looked out for one another during the horrible times of the persecutions by Nero.
Those days must have truly tested the faithful. So many vivid details come out in this movie. For a person to be known as a follower of Christ was like a death sentence. To worship God for sending the Messiah was a banned and forbidden practice in that old city. People were warned not to read the scriptures. They were not to pray or keep the Sabbath or share communion. Apparently all of those thing reminded Nero that there was a completely different way to live; one that did not include him as god.
As I watched Priscilla and Aquila risk their lives as they ministered to their whole Christian community, it came to me that this same thing could happen in America on any given day. We could lose the precious freedom of religion which we have fought so hard to keep. There are signs of this all around us even as I write this article.
As I watched the surreal scenes of this movie portraying ancient Christians carrying on their lives in spite of all odds and horrendous circumstances, the word that kept coming to me was “endurance.”
THOSE WHO ENDURED ALL THINGS FOR CHRIST
God wants servants who endure. Our Father wants his true servants to live like those who are portrayed in this movie. If you want to experience the meaning of deep faithfulness and true endurance, I highly recommend that you view this film.
These ancient citizens who banned together and hid with one another in order to live a Christian lifestyle, were good examples of how we all may need to live one day. Priscilla and Aquila were good examples of brave, courageous, generous and loving people. These two roles were very well played and accurately represented by Joanne Whalley and John Lynch.
LUKE WAS AN EXAMPLE OF ENDURANCE
The disciple Luke, who was beautifully played by Jim Caviezel, was a perfect example of endurance too.
Luke was risking his life to help a fellow believer who was being held in prison simply because he would not bow to anyone but God. Paul stands out as one of the greatest examples of endurance that ever lived in the days after the crucifixion of Christ.
Of course, Jesus is the greatest example of all. Paul was simply focused on following Jesus without waiver.
We could all take a lesson from any of these strong characters in this movie.
THE WITNESS OF ENDURANCE
I think anyone who has actually sat through these moving scenes of the movie would say they felt the pain of each character. They experienced the salty tears of the hopelessness which they all endured for the sake of being a witness for Christ. Each viewer got a taste of what it is like to live in the middle of a very hostile environment. All the while each follower of Christ and each character portrayed in this movie had only one goal. They wanted simply to show the steadfast love of God to others. The passion of the people is very evident in every scene. You can’t watch the screen and see their stories without feeling a kinship toward each one of them. Take a box of tissues with you. Crying is part of the experience. You will find your heart breaking through several scenes of this movie.
The actor playing the role of Paul is James Faulkner. His role was perfectly cast. In appearance, He reminded me of Rembrandt’s painting of The Prodigal. He does an excellent job of acting out the life of Paul during a time when he had reached the age of well-rounded maturity in Christ. Most of the movie’s timeline took place during Paul’s very last days on earth.
A MENTOR AND A TEACHER
We see Paul in the movie as someone who is constantly teaching Luke, even from the confines of a prison cell.
Luke is the courageous and daring, younger apostle. He is eager to learn from the man he looks up to and admires so much. Luke realizes that Paul’s execution is eminent. He desires to pull Paul’s message of Christ out from the words of Paul’s heart and write them down in order to share them with the world.
Can you imagine us without two-thirds of the New Testament? You can thank Luke for his passion to record Paul’s words, allowing us the blessings of having the whole story.
A FAITHFUL SCRIBE
Luke had a driven mission to write the messages from Paul. Otherwise; no one would have known an inkling of all the many passages which we quote among ourselves and in our pulpits daily. We say them all with such casualness. We repeat the words without even stopping to think that they might have been conceived in the deep dark recesses of a prison cell. It never enters our imaginations to know they were the last words from a dying old man. Our prayers should go up to thank God that someone was brave enough to go and listen to Paul in prison. Luke was courageous enough to follow God’s command to serve in the best of all ways; as a faithful scribe of the Gospel.
A TERRIBLE TWIST OF IRONY
There is a true twist of irony which comes forth in the story as Paul and Luke pray for the man in charge of Paul’s imprisonment. His name is Mauritius. This man’s character is artfully played by Oliver Martinez.
Mauritius’s daughter is very ill and at the point of death. There is nothing that her father, or anyone, can do for her. Her heart-broken parents are shown praying to the pagan gods of Rome for help. The wife of Mauritius is insisting that these fake gods will help them. Both parents and those around them are continuously accusing one another for not pleasing the gods since the girl does not ever get any better.
As a very last and hopeless resort Luke is given permission to go into the young girl. Remember that Luke is a physician as well as an apostle. As Luke tends to her health and prays for her; she is revived. Though Mauritius and his wife are very grateful and consider this to be a great miracle; they never seem to seriously consider becoming Christians. Paul has some very pointed conversations with Mauritius to no avail.
LIFE CAN BE VERY IRONIC
In a most striking scene from the movie; the whole city of Rome rejoices over this important political leader’s famous daughter’s miraculous healing.
Almost in the same hour, these same masses of people are shown cheering and watching while a whole group of Christians from the same prison as Paul (including innocent children and their mothers) are being led into the circus arenas for Nero’s deadly games. They go to their deaths while being burned like huge torches of human lanterns.
God’s grace left no impression on the affluent citizens of Rome.
It occurs to me that this is a too familiar part of the annals of human civilization’s history. Now days, whenever I think of that particular scene in the movie, my thoughts go immediately to the suffering of an infant child whose parents have fought with the powers of government for the right of their “imperfect” child to live. As we watched this precious one die; Britain and the whole rest of the world were rejoicing over a new-born royal baby’s birth.
Life can be very ironic.
Some things never change.
Real life, ancient lives, modern lives, and movie characters alike, all present the same story over-and-over. When will we live out what we believe. Will we ever become a world that relates to all life equally and the same; whether pauper or wealthy, black or white, old or young, like us or different from us. This race of humanity requires constant endurance as we travel through so many hard and evil pathways.
Our only hope is God.
DEATH, SUFFERING AND NARROW ESCAPES
I loved the part of the movie that told how Luke was able to minister to those who died in the flames on the night before their deaths. He too was supposed to be among them. Luke’s life was only saved because it was the next morning that he was sent away to help with a cure for Mauritius’s daughter.
Luke tenderly and honestly told those bravely marching to martyrdom that there would be pain only for a moment……then they would see the face of God. He taught them the true art of enduring until the end. We know they now have their reward. The end of this movie brings a scene of what awaits them. It all plays out in a very beautiful and moving way. I’ll let you find that out for yourselves. Go watch the movie.
PAUL’S NEW BEGINNING
Of course we all know the end of this story for Paul; but I was surprised that I loved the way the movie portrayed the death of Paul. Again; I will not explain it because I don’t want to ruin it for those who haven’t seen the movie yet.
I’m pleased I was able to see this movie at the theaters. That was a while ago, so I recommend purchasing a copy for your movie collection at home. Here is the link for an Amazon.com purchase: https://amzn.to/4k38tig. Enjoy!
I highly recommend re-watching it every year as we go through the process of counting down the days from Passover to Pentecost.
The Company of Affirm Films along with Outside Da Box, Executive Director/Writer Andrew Hyatt and Executive Producer Eric Groth, along with Executive Producers Rick Jackson and Harrison Powell and Producers T.S. Berden (also a Writer) and David Zelon are to be applauded for this tremendous work of art. Every actor in this film did their best. Each part was well-played.
BACK TO COUNTING THE DAYS
I was counting the Omer when I was reminded of this movie production and all of the excellent learning that comes along with it. It is a perfect example of what the word “endurance” means.
As we approach the 28th day of the omer count I will probably think of it again. That is when we will examine the fact that “sovereignty is the cornerstone of endurance.” The exercise recommended in my devotional reminder is to go out and fight for a worthy cause.
I smile to myself as I close the counting for the day. I think of Paul’s very words: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up, and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
There are the words in black and white; written down by Luke for all the world to see.
The summary of Paul’s life. The words that should apply to all of our lives as we follow Christ.
Endurance.
It matters!
So don’t waste another moment. Get your tickets and go see this movie. I promise you it will touch your heart in a million different ways and you, like me, will learn what it truly means to endure.
God is so good to us.
All the time.