I watched The DaVinci Code this week (note: movie spoilers here).  Yeah, it’s pagan.  But it left me with an astounding thought: Could Paganism lead us back to God?  Don’t stop reading.  I am NOT ready to ditch Jesus for Mary Magdalene (you’ll have to see the movie to understand).  I’m not going to follow Zeus or anything.  But I was left with an amazing confirmation of my faith in God after viewing the movie.
Here’s why.
Robert Langdon’s quest throughout the movie is to find The Grail. For Langdon and so many others, the Grail was a thing, a cup.  In the end, however, it was a person: Sophie, ala Mary Magdalene.  So many times in my life my quests have been a certain kind of person (to find a wife or a girlfriend), or to find fulfillment (as in a career or job), or to find an experience (I love to travel so I yearn for that next vacation or trip or job that will take me to new places), or to find a thing (like that new gadget or better car).
I am still searching and yearning, and I would bet most everyone is if they’re honest.  This never ends.  The moment we stop wanting something is the day we die.  I think we do need to die to our desires so that life is not so much a trap to get what we want but a pursuit to love God.  Can God use Paganism to bring us back to Himself?  Could it be that in our pursuit of Pagan ideas we come to realize that this world doesn’t satisfy?  This idea is very old, I know.  But even we’re in church and trying to be sanctified to some degree, we need this reminder that this world is not all there is.  I affirmed my faith in God again in watching DaVinci because I recognized that a dead Mary does not satisfy my soul – only a live Jesus can!  I have a place in my heart for Jesus and He is there.  No amount of Pagan trinkets can fill it.  I wish Langdon could’ve seen that in the movie.  I wish I lived it.Hillsong, their song None But Jesus played.  It helped me remember that our HOLY GRAIL is Jesus.  I don’t bow at a person or a thing or a pursuit.  I bow before the incarnate-God, Jesus Christ.  Sometimes I worry that I worship like the Samaritans and the Woman at the Well did: Jesus said that they worshiped what they did not know.  Maybe my worship is empty because I don’t try to know WHO I worship.  I think this song helps me with that.  Read John 4:1-42.  Listen to this song.There is no one else for me.

I know I haven’t been all I needed to be this week. I haven’t loved or served as I should and I need God’s – and others- forgiveness for that.  But more than this I need forgiveness for not pursuing HIM as I should.  I haven’t tried to know Him as I should.

I don’t have all the answers to this thing of pursuit but today in listening to
None but Jesus…
Crucified to set me free.
Now I live to bring Him praise.
In the chaos, in confusion,
I know You’re Sovereign still.
In the moment of my weakness…
You give me grace to do Your will.
When You call I won’t delay.
This my song through all my days.
All my delight is in You Lord.
All of my hope, all of my strength.
All my delight is in You Lord, Forevermore.
Hillsong – None but Jesus