A popular theme of literature and cinema have been stories of 'castaways' in various forms.
Scenario 1
In the 1970's television mini-series "Family at War" set in Liverpool during the years of WWII we have the scenario of one newly married couple where husband is whisked off to France and misses out on the Dunkirk withdrawal. She is pregnant when he leaves for war and gives birth to their baby son, in effect, a single mum.
Reports have him as missing (presumed dead from the last sightings) and after a couple of years his wife takes up with another man, after some time falls pregnant and then loses the baby in child birth.
The husband meanwhile was found by the Belgium underground and as a trained radio operator was put to work and for his efforts was given an underground female member as his lover. He gets an SID and is forever haunted.
He gets home after D-Day and the shock and horror of his wife and their family, she finally ditches her defacto and takes back up with her husband who is far from well mentally and physically. The rest of this scenario deals with the difficulties of this relationship.
Scenario 2
Castaway was a movie with Tom Hanks associated with FedX and the aircraft crashes into the sea and he finds himself on a deserted island. He has this one parcel. His aim is to deliver it personally. Four years later he is rescued.
Meanwhile his wife and family have assumed he is dead, a funeral is held, and she takes up with one of his friends, marries and has a baby daughter. Then the 'castaway' turns up, rescued. They realise it is all too impossible. He delivers the parcel and there is a ray of hope that there might be a new relationship in the offing!
Scenario 3
April 2016 Northern Territory – a film crew find a man whose fishing boat and him parted company and was left to fend for himself in the heavy duty surrounding of the outback under a threatening Australian sun. He is referred to as a 'castaway'.
Castaways
The Scriptures are replete with 'castaway' stories. We can think of Cain, Hagar, Joseph, Moses, Joshua and Caleb with their minority report of the Promised Land. On and on the Old Testament it seems focuses on castaways. Daniel and Jeremiah and in the New Testament, Paul is classic.
Jesus is the greatest of all castaways. His life and mission was heading in one direction. The resurrection illustrated ultimate victory. The question therefore becomes – what is the application of the resurrection? How does it apply to our lives, or is just a feel-good story that precipitates the Day of Pentecost.
In recent months when speaking including Easter Sunday and giving the devotional at One Day in Melbourne – Evangelicals Online, I have been coining a two word presentation of the application of the resurrection.
Resurrection Moments
Resurrection moments can be anything. Events in your life where the Lord's touch was clearly evident. Loved ones and friends coming to Christ. New ministries initiated. Wonderful outcomes from those ministries. People becoming part of those mission activities.
Resurrection moments can include a new job, a fresh career start, a fresh relationship towards something more, an engagement, a marriage, buying a home, finding the right rental, buying a car, getting the business deal signed, going on vocation.
Whatever you feel the Lord has been involved with your decisions in all these matters is a Resurrection moment. This is wonderful Christian News!
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html