The boys and I just finished watching The Great Escape and the passion and one mindedness of these men is remarkable to me. As a quick synopsis of the movie (which is based on true events, though embellished for film) the Germans have built a special POW camp in which to hold all the enemy prisoners who have attempted escapes from other prisons. Their idea is in putting “all the rotten eggs in one basket” the Germans will be better able to control and monitor the prisoners. The prisoners are mostly men from the British commonwealth and two Americans.
At the very beginning of the movie the commandant calls the senior officer from the prisoners into his office. He explains the purpose of the newly built prison and explains that they have recreational activities such as sports and gardening for the prisoners to occupy themselves with and that he trusts they will put their energies towards that rather than towards attempt an escape.
The British captain replies: “It is the sworn duty of all officers to try to escape. If they cannot escape, then it is their sworn duty to cause the enemy to use an inordinate number of troops to guard them, and their sworn duty to harass the enemy to the best of their ability.”
He didn’t have to think about it, and he certainly wasn’t tempted by the leisurely activities being offered to his men. He knew what their duty was and wasn’t ashamed to state it.
But the scene that has been replaying in my mind is one
where the prisoners are settling into their new quarters and British Flight
Lieutenant Blythe is bunking with American Flight Lieutenant Hendley.
Hendley asks Blythe what he is doing there and Blythe starts into an explanation
about how his plane got shot down and he was captured. Hendley interrupts him
and clarifies – “No, I mean what do you DO, here?” And Blythe simply says; “Oh,
I am the forger.”
Every man had his role, and every man knew the part he needed to play to make the operation move smoothly. From forger to scrounger to security to tunnel digger to land surveying to tailor – they each functioned differently and yet in unity. They came from many different backgrounds and yet shared a sworn oath that gave them a common goal and purpose.
Is this not also true of the church of Christ? We are all meant to function differently than one another, and yet in unity and support for the same purpose. Both the greater universal church (all who put their faith in Christ Jesus) and the local church (the Christians you meet with regularly.)
It has inspired my questions for today. Questions for self reflection, or perhaps with a spiritual mentor or encouraging friend. They are big questions. Hard questions. But if we, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, don’t grapple with our our duty, our distractions, and our role, how will we know if we are following our duty or distracted by the enchantments of this world?
Questions for Conversations
- What difference has it made in my life in knowing Jesus Christ as my Savior?
- Can I succinctly summarize what my “sworn duty” is as a follower of Jesus Christ?
- What does obedience to Christ look like? Using the Bible as the basis, what do you know your life should or should not look like?
- What distractions keep me from obeying Christ? Have you heard the expression “Good is the enemy of great“? What good might be keeping you from obedience?
- What are you doing here? In your local church community how are you utilizing your spiritual gift for the edification of the body?
The inspiration for this weeks questions came from the movie The Great Escape which is available for free for Amazon Prime members.
