You NEED a Bodyguard!

I was thinking recently about the film My Bodyguard. It's one of my favorite 80's films.

It's a heart-warming story about a sensitive, mild-mannered, adolescent boy named Clifford Peache. He had just transferred into Lake View High School. Because of his lack of physical stature, Clifford easily becomes the target of a group of school bullies. They torment him in all the usual "high school" ways with toilet-swirlys and stolen lunch money, until Clifford can take it no longer. He comes up with a plan to approach the school outcast, the large, sullen Ricky Linderman (Adam Baldwin) for help. Rumor has it that Ricky has killed several people. Everybody is terrified of him.

Clifford works up the nerve to approach Ricky and asks him to be his Bodyguard. The rest of the story unfolds pretty much as you might expect. Though there are some ups and downs, ultimately the Bodyguard intercedes and helps young Clifford to defeat the bullies.

When I saw this movie over thirty years ago, I remember thinking how great it would be to have had my own personal Bodyguard. Like the Secret Service agents that follow the President, anybody who tried to bully me would be dispatched with a snap of my fingers. My personal Bodyguard would intercede and put an end to any pain the bullies intended to inflict.

This may be a stretch, but I see Jesus in a similar way. As my personal Bodyguard. When God created the world and all those that live in it, He also came up with a set of rules for mankind to play by so life on earth would be a paradise. But unfortunately, his creatures (myself included) knowingly or through ignorance, turned our back on these rules and we have turned on each other. Our inhumanity has angered and disappointed God.

[ John 3:18: "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."

Genesis 6:7: "the Lord regretted making human beings on the earth, and his heart was grieved."]

On that future day of Judgement, God has declared He will give every rebellious person an eternal "swirly" (so to speak). We will have no recourse. No ability to resist. He is strong and we are helplessly weak and overwhelming guilty. Gurgle.. gurgle.. gurgle..

But this is where Jesus will step in. By taking him at his word, believing he was sent by God, and willingly surrendering our will for his, he has become my personal bodyguard. When the time comes for me to stand before God and I am measured against perfection, Jesus will intercede and bear the brunt for whatever punishment I have coming my way.

[Isaiah 53:5: "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."

1 Peter 2:24: "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness."

Romans 5:1: "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."]

I know the theology of my story maybe incorrect, but it's my story and I'm sticking with it. If you wish to have your own spiritual Bodyguard, a simple prayer of repentance and acceptance is all it takes (Romans 10:9). May this Christmas be a bully-free holiday for you all!