I have finished two "classic" works of literature that I had never taken the time to read before: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Frankenstein.

I actually became interested because they were on a resource list for a Worldview Course that I was researching. I was not surprised that each of the tales was different from the our common connotations, based on movies that, for good or bad (good: the Spencer Tracy "Jekyll,"; bad: the myriad other versions of both!) could not give to the viewer the torment and anguish the title characters felt.

Each of the two stories is written either in first person, or from another "eyewitness" point of view. The authors were extremely talented in "pulling me in" to the stories.

What you don't get from the cheesy movie versions of Jekyll is the reason Henry Jekyll experimented with the good/bad parts of the human nature to begin with. He wanted to find a way to separate the good and the bad in order to allow man to live in his "good" nature all the time. As we all know, after drinking the potion and entering his "evil" nature, he wreaked havoc on the town, until he took his antidote to return to "normal." He found he had a problem when the evil nature returned to him without notice, and without taking the formula. This happened at shorter and shorter intervals, and he found himself trying to make his way home to get the antidote before he was found out.

Eventually Jekyll finds himself in his evil state without any more antidote, and he must find a "final solution" to his problem.

Then I moved on to Frankenstein. Dr. Victor Frankenstein again had a noble motive: he thought that if he could find the "answer to life," then he could bring people back to life, for example, children who died from disease.

He gathered the most beautiful "pieces and parts" that could be acquired from cadavers. He also decided that he would be more easily successful if he worked in a larger (giant) format. He was extremely excited, thinking that he was advancing God's cause, as he did the electrical and chemical maneuvers that brought the being to life.

He was immediately horrified: the eyes and mouth, instead of being beautiful, were hideous. He ran away from the being, and was relieved to find the being gone when he came home again.

Frankenstein spends the the next years haunted by what he had done. He calls the being alternately daemon, fiend, and monster. His act causes the death of everyone he loves; the monster treks across the earth looking for acceptance and love, and failing that, turns to vengeance and murder. The knowledge of what he has done affects Frankenstein's physical, mental, and emotional health until he eventually dies.

Both Henry Jekyll and Victor Frankenstein had noble motives. Both wanted to better mankind. Both believed they had a "calling" to do so. But they both entered into places that belong only to God--those of Author of Life, and Redeemer of Mankind. We are more than a collection of organs and chemicals, "turned on" at the beginning of our life. We must not forget that the first man, Adam, had life "breathed into him" by the Father God himself.

Adam messed things up, and then left to all his descendants the Sin Nature. The Bible says that we are all "desperately  wicked" by ourselves. It takes Jesus' resurrection power to redeem that nature. All the good in us is because of Him. Do you see that both Jekyll and Frankenstein were doomed from the start? They had nothing to give their creations except from their own stores--which were inherently flawed.

These stories have many layers--definitely worth a read. They are short enough for summer reading, as well.

After spending some time this weekend thinking about the two stories, I went to church this morning. During worship we sang the "Revelation Song." Look at some of the lyrics. They meant so much more to me, after reading these two stories:

Worthy is the,
Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to Him who sits on
Heaven's Mercy Seat

(Chorus)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You…!

Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and
Glory and power be
To You the Only Wise King,

Filled with wonder,
Awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus, Your Name is Power
Breath, and Living Water
Such a marvelous mystery

********************

So here is the Short Version:

Man disappoints, but Jesus Never Disappoints.

Man fails, but Jesus Never Fails.

God is good. All the time!

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Posted by Inglesidemom

I love it when you think! Now I want to read two books that NEVER even tempted me before. Good words!

Jen

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