Hello ,
The movie Get Low is the story of a 1930s Tennessee hermit, Felix Bush (Robert Duvall), who threw his own funeral party-while he was still alive. In a particularly poignant scene, Felix visits a local minister, the Rev. Gus Horton, requesting the pastor's help to arrange his funeral.
As he sets down a wad of cash in front of the pastor, Felix declares, "It's time for me to get low." When Rev. Horton asks what he means by that, Felix replies, "Down to business. I need a funeral." When the pastor asks who the funeral is for, Felix says, "Me."
Rev. Horton is bewildered by the request, but Felix presses forward, asking, "Well, what would you say [about me]?"
"Oh, eulogy. Well, ah, I don't know. What would you want me to say?"
"Say what you'd say right now to my face." Felix replies sternly.
"Mr. Bush, I don't know much about you," the reverend responds. "I've heard stories, but ..."
"What stories?" asks Felix.
"Stories, you know. People talk," replies the reverend.
"What kind of stories?" Felix asks.
"Well sir," the reverend answers, "my mother used to say that gossip is the devil's radio. What matters is when you come to the end of your life that you're ready for the next one. Now, have you made peace with God, sir?"
"I paid," replies Felix.
By "I paid" Felix means he has spent most of his adult life trying to atone for his sins. In particular, Felix is referring to an incident from forty years ago. Felix had an affair with a married woman; and when the woman's husband learned of the affair, the husband became enraged and ultimately murdered her. Felix blamed himself for her death and spent the next forty years depriving himself of a wife and children.
Instead, he lived alone, deep in the woods, cut off from community and happiness, all in a futile attempt to pay the debt of this transgression. Now forty years later, after his long self-atonement project, he hopes that he's finally paid his debt.
But Rev. Horton wisely disagrees with Felix. "Mr. Bush," he replies firmly, "you can't buy forgiveness. It's free, but you do have to ask for it."
With that, Felix reaches and picks up the wad of cash and stomps out of the church.
The preceding was just a story in a movie, but I have met people on my journey through life that somehow believe that they must pay for their forgiveness.
Our attempts at working for forgiveness are futile, but there is a better way.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgives us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
Forgiveness is free to us, but it cost Jesus His life. Trivializing the price that heaven paid would be a tragedy.
Have a great day and God bless!
Pastor Mike / The Open Word
