Imagine That

Can’t help it. Can’t shut ‘em up. My fingers gotta say something, they say it, regardless how inconvenient it is. Like tonight, when I should be snoring already.

After watching Imagine That, Staring Yara Shahidi and Eddie Murphy, my dancing fingers started jitter-bugging almost before I could get them to the keyboard. Oh, you say I got the the movie’s billing backward? Okay, Murphy received first billing in the promos, but little Yara stole the show. And what a show! Although the movie received its share of negative reviews, I loved it. But that’s what counts, isn’t it?

It’s not spoiling the movie for those who haven’t seen it to say the song the kids sang at the end was one of secular humanism’s anthems, All You Need is Love by the Beatles. Catchy song. Catchy sentiment. Catchy lie in its message.

As with all the best lies, the song’s partial truth carries its compelling message that love fixes any problem, heals any sickness, and restores any soul. But love from any source other than Love Personified, is counterfeit, and won’t stand up to the rigorous scrutiny of life’s trials.

Witness the close friendships that turn sour, the families that can’t stand one another, and the intimate relationships that fall apart. Common interests, common heredity, and a common bed aren’t enough in the long term. Uncountable issues can arise to blast apart the closest attachments, if the God who is love is left out.

How can we bring God’s love into our friendships, our families, and our marriages? First, know that God will never be a party to any relationship where He is denied first place. And that does not mean sharing a common religion, although that isn’t a bad idea.

That does mean if we love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, He will give us His love to pour out on those close to us, and yes, even on our enemies. According to Jesus, and He should know, we have only one way to know and love God the Father: And Jesus Himself is the Way to the Father, the absolute Truth, and the eternal Life.

No wonder so many relationships fail; most people will never accept God’s narrow way, ‘cause it’s too … narrow. Imagine that.