Bats Frighten Me...

I think I may spend too much time being entertained. I like reading, watching television, and indulging in a good movie. Every once in a while, however, they are actually worth my time. Sometimes, something from a movie will strike a chord that resounds in the essence of my being. That is what defines a good movie for me. It may be cheaply made with poor acting and no special effects, but if its message can awaken a glimpse of the eternal, it has been well worth it. One such movie came out a few years ago, though it also had the benefit of exceptional acting and a large budget. That movie was Batman Begins.

The movie was absolutely brilliant. Its theme, plot, and tone were amazing; and there are many things I could point out from its storyline. However, I will concentrate on only one small portion: my favorite line in the movie. The character of Bruce Wayne is beginning his transformation into Batman when Alfred asks him, “Why bats, Master Wayne?” Bruce coolly responds, “Well, Alfred, bats frighten me; and it’s time my enemies shared in my dread.”

The thought of shaping your life around the very thing you fear the most was something that stuck in my mind. I have often thought that the thing we fear most is often the very thing that could be our greatest weapon. I can see this in my own life and where God has called me.

God has, for some reason, seen fit to call me as a preacher, a task that I never thought I could do. I preached my first sermon when I was seventeen, and it scared me to death; public speaking was, perhaps, my greatest fear. I am still nervous every time I get in front of people, but by God’s grace I am strengthened in faith to give glory to Him. As I am continuing in obedience to God’s call, I see more and more how little my fears really mean. And now I see that Satan will often assault us with fear to keep us from doing the very thing that is the greatest threat to him. So, by that reasoning, the things that God calls us to that we fear most are the things that do the greatest damage to Satan because they are the things that will most glorify God.

So, why preaching? First, because God called me to do it. Second, because it frightens me, and it is time for Satan to share my dread. And by God’s strength, though I am still frightened when I have to preach, the devil is far more frightened when I preach.

So, what frightens you? And how will you use it to strike fear into your Enemy?