Hello ,

 

 

The hit TV show Breaking Bad follows the story of Walter White, a mild-mannered chemistry teacher who, after receiving a terminal diagnosis, turns to cooking crystal meth to provide for his family. As he develops a taste for the trade, Walt slowly turns into a bold but degenerate thug. But the show doesn't soft-peddle the consequences of sin. The show's creator, Vince Gilligan, said, "If there's a larger lesson to Breaking Bad, it's that actions have consequences .... I feel some sort of need for biblical atonement, or justice, or something."

 

In one of the most memorable scenes of season four, the biblical implications of Gilligan's vision become clear. Walt's younger accomplice Jesse Pinkman commits murder and then attends a Narcotics Anonymous meeting in hopes of finding relief. After Jesse shares a thinly veiled version of his crime, the group leader counsels self-acceptance. "We're not here to sit in judgment," he says, to which Jesse explodes:

 

Why not? Why not? ... If you just do stuff and nothing happens, what's it all mean? What's the point? ... So no matter what I do, hooray for me because I'm a great guy? It's all good? No matter how many dogs I kill, I just-what, do an inventory, and accept?

 

It's not surprising that Vince Gilligan believes in hell and judgment for human sin. He said, "I want to believe there's a heaven, but I can't not believe there's a hell."

 

That last statement, "I want to believe there's a heaven, but I cannot believe there's a hell" rings true for so many people.  Life isn't without consequences, no matter how much people act like it is.  Fact is, there is a controversy between good (of which we play a part,) in full swing each and every day on our planet.  Who we allow to guide our days makes all the difference.

 

Lord, help me to see that I play a very real part in the controversy between good and evil.  Help me, and guide me in choosing to stay on Your side today and always. Prepare me for what You have planned. In Jesus name, amen.

 

Have a great day and God bless!

 

 

 

Pastor Mike / The Open Word