Longing for Pandora??

A blockbuster movie came out last year called Avatar. It was directed by James Cameron (director of the Titanic) and was a movie he had been thinking about make for quite some time. This movie beat all the records set previous for highest grossing movie, merchandising, etc... Basically it made ALOT of money. If you havent seen the film the premise is described here:

"A place set in the future when the Earth's resources have been pillaged by the human race. A greedy corporation is trying to mine from the planet Pandora, which is inhabited by a peace-loving race of 10-foot tall, blue-skinned natives called the Na'vi.

In their race to mine for Pandora's resources, the humans clash with the Na'vi, leading to casualties on both sides. The world of Pandora is reminiscent of a prehistoric fantasyland, filled with dinosaur-like creatures mixed with the kinds of fauna you may find in the deep reaches of the ocean. Compared with life on Earth, Pandora is a beautiful, glowing utopia.

I found an article about Avatar on CNN from January 2010, describing the fact that there were people so entranced by the beauty of the place called "Pandora", people were actually becoming depressed or suicidal.

One person wrote:
"One can say my depression was twofold: I was depressed because I really wanted to live in Pandora, which seemed like such a perfect place, but I was also depressed and disgusted with the sight of our world, what we have done to Earth. I so much wanted to escape reality,"

The want and need to go to Pandora is described by one of the actors:
"Pandora is a pristine world and there is the synergy between all of the creatures of the planet and I think that strikes a deep chord within people that has a wishfulness and a wistfulness to it,"

These people were longing for a place of peace, a place of love, a place where people lived in harmony forever. Funny thing is when I read this article I realized that these people CAN HAVE this very type of place: the kingdom of God. For what the kingdom of God actually is read my other post.
God's people in a similar way (the whole creation and its inhabitants) groan and long for when God (Romans 8:22-23) will refine the earth and combine heaven and earth together and unite Himself with His people!

These people are longing for a place on a movie screen, while there is a God who longs for them to know who He is so that they can live lives dedicated to Him--- living eternally with Himself in a perfect utopia!!!

Listen to this description:
"I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
Rev. 21:1-3

How amazing is that?? God Himself will be with his people, no more death, tears, mourning or pain. Check these additional descriptions out:

"...and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
Rev. 21:10-11

"I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. "
Rev. 21:22-23

Wow, Pandora has nothing on the kingdom of God manifested like this. I can only imagine what John felt at those moments as this was all being revealed to him. Its exciting to simply read this knowing that as followers/believers in Christ, when our King returns to bring all things together---we will be there. Celebrating, rejoicing at His brilliance, His majesty, His glory--in a world that is perfect, pristine, harmonious, and better than any representation that movies TRY to imitate. Pandora in no way compares to the glory of the kingdom!

I pray that these people will hear the gospel message. The good news that we have in Christ so that they will have a past joy (Christ' death on the cross for forgiveness of sins) and a future joy ( Christ' return). If your a believer already then let this be an encouragement for whatever your going through: a bad job, bad friends, bad day,---that in the midst of this, "we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ..." (Titus 2:13)

So as the apostle John says in Rev. 22:21-"...Amen, Come Lord Jesus."

Be blessed!