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Feb. 28, 2009
Fireproof: The Sequel
Nope. I'm not here to analyze or comment on the movie and encourage you to jump on board. I want to encourage you to, after you jump on board, catch the NEXT train. I want to talk about what comes AFTER...
What if there was Fireproof 2, the Sequel? Then Fireproof 3? What do you think the plot would be?
I remember when I was going through the "fireproof" phase myself. And yes, it was very much like the movie. And my marriage turned on a dime and was rebuilt by the Lord, on the foundation of His truth. But that was nearly seven years ago.
It was just the beginning. Just the tip of the iceberg.
I liked the movie. I'm glad it is inspiring and helping so many people. I was in a place once where it was exactly what I needed and God gave me a lot of the same help in a different way.
But when I watched the movie, it was "milk" to me. Too simple. Too lacking. I can honestly say that I am a "fireproof" graduate, but in the years since, God has shown me more! So much more!
I'm not criticizing the movie. It was good--one of the best out there--and I think it will bless many. It was accurate and on track. I'm trying to convey that it's just the start. I'm just saying, as a testimony of my experience, there's MORE. God has taken me years beyond the initial restoration of my marriage, and has grown me so much, in ways I could have never imagined. God continues to grow me in my understanding of His perfect love, His plan for marriage, and His plan for me. The "fireproof" stage was just baby steps, just the beginning.
Ahhh... what's the point of this post? I'm not sure. I don't want people watching the movie and thinking that that's as good as it gets. I don't want people getting stuck in the "love dare" rut. It's good, but it's not close to as good as it gets if you just seek the Lord first every day. You see, when we have marriage troubles, it's all consuming. Our marriage problems consume us, and the restoration process consumes us, and it's all we can think about.. But once God straightens that out, we must realize that God is the focus of life. Not our marriage. Not our family. Not anything that is happening on this earth. It would be easy to settle into some of the "Love Dare" patterns of living and not move on to the bigger picture, the more eternal. There's more to life than a fixed marriage. Almost in the same way that the "Save the Planet" mentality irritates me (why save something that God already told us He is going to destroy soon?), the unbalanced focus on marriage frustrates me. God states clearly in His word that there is no marriage in heaven. Your earthly marriage is not eternal. And we are called to think eternally, and to live eternally.
I love my marriage. It is a bigger blessing to me every day as I allow God to work through His plan for my life--and marriage was part of His plan for me, just like it is for most people from the foundation of the world, starting with Adam and Eve. I thank God for my husband many, many times every day. I am so blessed through my husband, by God giving him to me. Marriage is a beautiful thing when it's led by the Lord. I wouldn't trade it for the world--but I would trade it for my Lord.
At one point I wanted to write that movie myself. I was so excited at the initial miraculous turn around of my marriage when I thought there was no hope. But here we are, seven years later, and I'm more amazed still--at the goodness and perfection of God and His ways. God has broadened my perspective beyond my marriage to the perfection of His love, and His eternal plan for me beyond my marriage and this earthly life, and the importance, above all, of growing in His Lordship in my life. My true marriage is going to be to Christ one day.
I have friends who divorced a few years ago, and they are on the verge of starting the rebuilding of their marriage upon the foundation of God's love--one of them is ready to do things God's way, down the "love dare" type path. When speaking with one of them today, I was able to honestly relate with all conviction that the preservation and restoration of my marriage was the greatest earthly gift God has ever given me. It truly is the biggest blessing to me on this earth. I am so thankful for the companionship and comfort and joy that my husband brings to my life. Marriage is part of God's plan for this world, and His blessing is upon it.
But there's so much more.
If you liked the movie and it was helpful to you, I'm so glad. But don't stay there. Seek the Lord first--daily-- for the rest of your life. Seek to be pleasing to Him in all that you do, with every breath you take. You will move on to the Fireproof sequel. It gets so much better.
And you, dear reader, will have my prayers, for I pray for all who stop by here.
God bless you.
-Mrs. E |
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Posted by Anonymous 
Mar. 8, 2009 - Untitled Comment