Jumanji was a 1995 movie I had fond memories of watching when I was much much younger. I am not endorsing Hollywood, but what I often see in many movies is a spiritual thirst they are trying hard to quench. I have the answers, and like evolution scientists, they are trying to solve the mystery of life without allowing a divine foot in the door. However, in Hollywood, all gods and American idols are allowed, except for Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life.
I was lost when Jumanji came out. When the main actor Robin Williams committed suicide, I was reminded of that movie and I watched it again.
To quote Wikipedia, The story centers on 12-year-old Alan Parrish, who becomes trapped in a board game while playing with his best friend Sarah Whittle in 1969. Twenty-six years later, siblings Judy and Peter Shepherd find the game and begin playing and then unwittingly release the now-adult Alan (Robin Williams). After tracking down Sarah, the quartet resolve to finish the game in order to reverse all of the destruction it has caused.
The siblings’ parents had died in a car crash on a ski trip, Alan’s father died from the sorrow of his son’s disappearance, and Alan and Sarah both were traumatized for their experiences. However at the end of the movie, adult Alan rolls the right dice combo, lands on Jumanji, and wins the game. Everything that happened gets reversed, and Alan and Sarah end up back in 1969 where it all began. They get another chance at this thing called life.
That I think is the appeal of the movie, and something that cries out from many of us. That desire to start over, reverse mistakes of bad decisions, and be able to navigate life better. It is a great desire in us to simply get a do-over and being able to see the consequences of our actions. For many, the false promises of reincarnation meet that desire.
It is one thing to have a “if I only did this” or “if I never did that” life of regret. I think there is that thirst that we have not to waste this life. However, for many, the future is a big disappointment once they get there. Everyone hopes, wishes, wants happily ever after at the wedding, starting a new job, making a big move, or changing careers. No one truly wants to wake up in hell. However, the majority end up with shipwrecked marriages, jobs that are unfulfilling, and ultimately end up in hell.
We can learn from mistakes in the past, but often disappointments, and failures can haunt us and become unwelcomed guests who refuse to move out. If we follow our hearts like the world tells us to, we will end up choosing selfishly and end up at the wrong destination.
That is where salvation changes our desires, direction, and destiny. Think of a GPS. I can head out to a new destination by plugging in the GPS or by driving and when I get to a fork in the road choose whatever route my heart leads. If I have no sense in direction, at times I may make a right choice, but at times I won’t. And the more choices I have to make, the less likely it will be the right choice. And just one or two wrong choices can put me in a whole other state or hours out of my way.
In a spiritual sense, I am not to follow my heart but I am to set my affections on things above. Kids sing a song called the Bible is my GPS. Our ultimate destination is heaven, but whatever is the next step- full time ministry, a stronger marriage, job direction, etc – if we are trusting Jesus and getting in the Bible and doing what it says — then God is able to steer us, and nudge us, and lead us more and more to the right location. If we get sidetracked and distracted, and make a bad decision or a wrong turn, we will hear God say, “TURN AROUND WHEN POSSIBLE” and as soon as you turn your heart back toward Him you are again going back to the right destiny.
If you are saved, you cannot lose it. However, we can wander and wander and wander at times and find the flesh is leading us and not the spirit. I find here is where God is calling out to get me back on track and not pull over and pout. Instead, to turn back to Him and get back to the next step. In 3/4 mile right turn ahead.
Yes, it was only 400 yards before I went my own way. But I am still going to arrive because my focus is to follow the GPS and not lean on my own understanding.
The do-overs of Jumanji may sound more appealing, but reality is God will use our wrong turns and detours in life to teach us to trust Him. And letting Jesus -and not my heart – be my GPS, I will end up where He wants me.
Even when I ended up on the scenic route for much longer than I anticipated.