The Book of Eli is a powerful movie that takes place in a future that has suffered through a nuclear war. Eli is a loner who is carrying the world's last Bible around, and is being hunted by a man who wants the Word of God so he can twist it and control people.
Through all the fighting and the action, his enemy finally gets his hand on Eli's Bible because Eli gives it up to save another person.
Solara: "I didn't think you'd ever give up the book, I thought it was too important to you"
Eli: " It was, I was carrying and reading it everyday, got so caught up in protecting it, I forgot to live by what I'd learnt from it"
Solara: "And what's that?"
Eli: "To do more for others than you do for yourself"
Eli's discovery sums up a situation we can find ourselves in, we can get jaded like that. With all that is going on, we can get so on the defensive that we forget Jesus simply commanded us to love people.
Is our first response to love our enemies?
What did Jesus say?
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48 (NIV)
It is easy to be angry and hate, but love is the way of the disciples of Christ.
