Date: 2/10/2009
Author: Devin Pickard
Title: Fireproof
He tried to tell me several weeks ago that it was absolutely one of the best movies he had ever seen in his life, and from that moment on I had full good intentions of watching it. But, it remained just that.....a good intention. You know how life is.....you file something in the back of your mind under the heading, “Immediate Attention” or at least “Get to it as soon as you can”, and then you sorta forget the file ever even existed. Well Steve Baker, I repent.....you were exactly right about the movie “Fireproof”.....it just may be one of the best movies I have ever seen.....ever. “Fireproof” falls into a much deeper category than just “film” or “entertainment”. If there was ever a movie that was truly “therapeutic and life altering”, this is it. Keep in mind, (and I will try to keep from giving too much of the movie away), this film will never be nominated for an Academy Award. I dare say that Kirk Cameron is the only actor in the movie that anyone would even possibly recognize. And, in comparison to this day of million(s) dollar film production, the $500,000 budget for “Fireproof” seems like only a few cents. All of this notwithstanding, most anyone who has seen the movie will tell you that its worth renting, or even better, buying. This film has some of the greatest special effects you will ever experience. Notice, I did not say “special effects you will ever see”, because frankly, I don't think there were any to see. No, the greatest special effect of this film is the effect it will, or at least can have on your marriage.....or any relationship for that matter that's worth salvaging.
The underlying theme of the entire Bible is that of “love”. Most non-Christians even know what John 3:16 says.....“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. It was the love for mankind that motivated God to send Jesus to the earth in the first place. John tells us that “we love, because God first loved us” (1 John 4:19). The Apostle Paul's words found in 1 Corinthians 13 have probably been recited in almost every marriage ceremony that has ever taken place. Without true, unconditional love, life at best is just simply existing. Love makes life worth living. True love brings peace, calmness and tranquility. It helps to steady the soul and steer the heart, and though the ride at times may be a bit bumpy and treacherous, it's always worth your while. It's worth fighting for.....it's worth crying for.....it's worth asking for.....it's worth working for.....it's worth reclaiming. “Fireproof” is proof of all the above facts and many, many more.
Love is not only the theme for God's Word, it's also the theme for the entire world this week. Valentines Day brings out the “warm fuzzies” in most everyone. Flower and chocolate sales will abound over the next few days. Teddy Bears will find homes and Englebert Humperdink will once again regain his popularity from days gone by. But alas, Saturday, February 14th will soon come and go. Then, it will be easy for the “warm fuzzies” to become “lukewarm lint” again. My encouragement for you today is to treat every day as if though it's Valentines Day. If you love somebody, let them know it. Better yet, show it. And remember, it doesn't have to always come with a helium filled balloon and a big vase of flowers (although I'm sure that would get you some good points!)
“Fireproof” was the highest grossing independent film in 2008 with over $33,500,000. In spite of that, many professional film critics hated it. Most of them just didn't think a movie based on something so simple was worth spending hard earned money on to see it. Well, with a $33,000,000 profit, apparently the movie going public thought otherwise. I guess it just proves that a good love story can still sell tickets. Especially a good love story that begins with a man having to first learn to love someone else.....even before his wife.
Go the extra mile - Devin