One of my favorite films is Gladiator. In it, there is a scene where Maximus—once a Roman General, now a slave—first steps into the gladiatorial arena to fight. He is reluctant, refusing to attack. As a Roman soldier, he had the best weapons and armor available. Now, he was nearly naked, seemingly defenseless. But even without the physical defenses, he was able to use his training, his wits, and the few weapons he had to fight and win.
A similar thing happens when I fall into sin. In the film, Maximus was thrust involuntarily into slavery. Sin, on the other hand, usually involves making a choice to reject God’s armor and to go into battle naked. Once I’m standing in the center of the arena, though, I’m forced to summon up whatever defenses I can create for myself. I put on the full armor of sin.
Then he points to Michelangelo’s painting of the Creation of Adam on the ceiling of the Cistine Chapel. God is reaching out to Adam who is rather nonchalantly lounging with his hand lazily outstretched. What a picture of how I have tended to treat my relationship with God!
