Redemption

On ABC's Lost, Ben Linus (pictured left) is perhaps one of the most intriguing characters to watch.  He was introduced early on in the series as a mysterious prisoner captured by the group who had crashed from Oceanic Flight 815.  After a plethora of episodes, it became evident that he was more than a prisoner, but had been on the island for quite some time.  In fact, he was the leader of a group they called, "the others"--a group of people derived from all sorts of past events.

In the last episode of season five, Ben was seen killing Jacob, (Lost's imitation of God) because things didn't go the way he had hoped.  Ben was enticed by a resurrected John Locke, who has recently been defined as "evil incarnate."  You can read more about this exchange in a blog I wrote on February 3 entitled, "Dethroning God."

Last night, Ben was faced with another decision.  While traveling with a group led by Jacob's most entrusted disciple, it became evident that Jacob died at the hands of Ben.  Naturally, the group was dissapointed, and issued Ben to a death sentence--He was to dig his own grave and then be buried in it.

While digging his grave, Locke appeared to Ben and an interesting exchange took place.  (Remember, Locke has become a supposed "Satan" of sorts.)  Locke disclosed to Ben that he was going to leave the island, and that he wanted to leave Ben in charge.  In essence, he was tempting him with the same temptation Jesus faced in Matthew 4:8-9, which was, "the kingdoms of the world."  All Jesus, and Ben, needed to do was "fall down and worship" the enemy.  Ben was enraptured by such an offer, and literally ran after it (Jesus was not).  Locke had strategically placed a rifle against a tree about 200 yards away to give Ben an advantage, so the plot was set up for Ben to rule the island.

When Ben began to run, he was chased by Jacob's guardian.  Once they stopped, another interesting exchange took place.  While holding a gun at the guardian's head, Ben began to pour out his heart.  The essence of his conversation was this; "I had a chance, but I failed.  Everything I did here was for Jacob, and I lost everything.  When I did, he didn't even care."  He further confesses that he did in fact kill Jacob, but it was because he was scared and confused.  Ben then apologizes, and states that he doesn't expect forgiveness from anyone, because he cannot forgive himself.  He simply wants to run away.  "Where will you go?" asked the guardian.  "To Locke," said Ben.  "Why?" he is asked.  Ben replies, "Because he is the only one that will have me."  The guardian compassionately responds, "I'll have you."  For the first time in Ben's life, he began to feel redemption knocking on the door, and shockingly turns away from Locke to follow Jacob.

Paul wrote in Romans 2:4, "...[do you not know] that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"  Here, Ben experiences, for perhaps the first time in his life, kindness.  All of his life he tried to please God on his own accord, and failed.  All he wanted was compassion and to know that his service was recognized.  Finally, he realized that it wasn't about the acknowledgment of his service, but the love offered that mattered the most.  He dropped the gun, and went back to Jacob's camp.

A few scenes earlier, it is important to know that Ben had also learned another lesson about Jacob.  When he killed him, he did so in anger and confusion, and Jacob didn't fight back.  This confused Ben even more, and to him it appeared as if Jacob didn't care if he died or not.  Ben was educated on this matter by a friend who said, "No, he cared.  Right up until the second the knife went through his heart, he was hoping he was wrong about you."  Here, Ben was able to see into the heart of "God," so to speak, and began to realize that even though he didn't understand God, God understood him.  The look on his faced expressed that he was shocked by the idea that God both knew him and cared about him.

While I believe that God cannot be surprised by our actions, this is still an interesting exchange to view.  The idea of the conversation was that Jacob is a loving and compassionate being, who only wants the best for his people, even if that means that they sometimes won't understand it.  In the end, it is truly his kindness that leads people to repentance and discipleship.

Today, I encourage you to know that God is kind and that He continuously loves us to the point where it breaks His heart, I imagine, to desire us to follow Him regardless if we understand or not.  As Paul wrote, "[Don't] think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience" (Romans 2:4).  God loves us and can redeem us through His Son, Jesus Christ.