The Death of Literature.

I am concerned that we are about to face the immanent death of literature as we know it. The story, novel, epic, whatever the mode of tale we look to, there are common archetypes, common themes. There is a battle between good an evil. This presumes that there is, indeed, a good and evil. There is hubris verses humility, love verses hate, self sacrifice verses self gain. I am afraid, because I know that there are many nowadays cheering for Voldemort insead of Harry. You prefer Darth Vader over Luke, and flagrantly deny that Vader turned back to the force when faced with his demise. There are those who look to whatever their ears want to hear and trade the truth for lies. These people say bad is good, and good is bad. They distort truth and make it relative and in this way nullify any faith at all other than the religion of self. They call those with absolutes intolerant and ignorant, if fact, they'll label anyone intolerant who is not just like them. I am astounded at the irony.

I am amazed when many question why characters like Voldemort have to be destroyed completely. One cannot remain while the other one lives. In the end, something has to give. One has to win out. This is the epic struggle of eternity. We are enthralled by it, transfixed on characters like Harry and Voldemort and yet we miss that we too are in this epic battle.

J.K. Rowling uses two epitaphs in her last Harry Potter book, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt. 6:21) and "The Last Enemy that will be destroyed is death." (1 Cor. 15:26)

Christians are told to store up their treasures in heaven because this earth is not our final destination. Like the curtain the Harry's uncle falls through and dies, there is just a thin veil that separates us from eternity, and what we do here has eternal significance. We can live for ourselves and self gain, or we can trust that what we give of ourselves and the lives of integrity that we live are of epic importance. There is any enemy who seeks to kill and destroy all that is good. He thinks only of himself. He seeks his own best interest and yet he can come as an angel of light.

Christ, on the other hand, willingly gave up his life for each of us. He laid his life down, and then, three days later, raised from the dead. Research it yourself if you don't believe me.

Christ will reign until he puts all enemies under his feet, and the last enemy to be destroyed is death. It will be swallowed up forever and he will wipe away every tear. There is an end to this epic battle, and when the King of Kings returns, what side will you be on? Just because you may not choose to believe, doesn't mean you won't be held accountable. Jesus said he would take the penalty for your sin if you choose to follow him. He is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through him.

We love Harry and Ron and Hermione because they are courageous, they have faith in the midst of persecution and disdain from others like them. They have courage, they believe that there is something bigger going on than what they can see. We wish our lives held that kind of purpose and destiny.

My friends, they do. The number of our days was ordained by God, and for those who have chosen him, he has an eternity we cannot imagine. Will you take the challenge? If the sorting hat were placed on your head, which house would you be in? When Jesus himself separates the sheep from the goats, which side will you be found on?


Do not be deceived. There is a right and wrong. There are standards and there is a holy and righteous God who is faithful. He is faithful to save those who call upon him, he is faithful to punish those who choose to follow the religion of self and love their latte more than their Lord.

The bible says that we fight not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world that we cannot see. We may not have the Sword of Gryffindor but this is what we have been given:

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Eph. 6:13-18)

There is good and evil. There is an epic battle. Count me on the side of Lion of Judah, the King of Kings, the one who was, and is, and is to come. The one who will put even death under his feet.