A.R.K- acts of random kindness

That is one of the four things I learnt from watching Evan Almighty.

Initially, I had a really bad impression about this movie from the reviews I get from those who had watched it. My personal thought of it before I watch was that it will more or less be like Bruce almighty. God will find the main character and give him all his powers. The guy will later learn something from it. And then the show would be a comedy.

So as Sunday late nights seems so long and boring forever. I decided to turn on my laptop as usual and do the same old routine stuff. I can not put it to words how bored I was at the time. But I made a decision. I decide to go into my family’s server and click onto the folder ‘movie’. And TATA...... “Evan almighty” outshone the other movies (mainly because I watch the others before). And yes. I double click on it and watch it.

And, nope. I had no regrets watching this show. It is true that this show is not as funny as Bruce almighty. And at times the show goes a little “lame?”. But what I truly like about the show is the story line.

This show talks about a guy call Evan who wants to ‘change the world’ and does not believe in God. Due to some reasons, he prayed for God to help him to ‘change the world’. So God appear in the form of a man and told Evan that if he wants to ‘change the world’, he have to build an ark. But of course, Evan does not believe that he is God. (If a stranger appear to me and says he is God, I too will not believe). Anyway, through many weird ways, God convince Evans God is God.

So Evan starts to build the ark the same size from the bible. At times he got off track. And he encountered a few other problems like his wife and kids leaving him and people mocking at what he is doing. However, God helped bring his family back. And with the help of his family and the animals, he completed building the ark by 22, September. A date that God told Evan a flood was coming, a date that the government wants the ark to be demolished.

Evan loaded all the animals on board. He warned the people that a flood will be coming and to get onto the ark. But the weather was burning hot and no one believed. Some people and even his wife try to coax him down the ark before the demolition. But he believed in what God told him. And at the eleventh hour just before the demolition truck was about to destroy the ark, drama as it is, it rained.

But before Evan can get happy, the rain stopped. His neighbors, the news reporters, the policeman, all who was there was laughing at him. But for Evan, he just know something is going to happen, he stood firm that something is going to happen and BOOM, the dam was broken and the flood was heading to where he was. Everyone rushed into the ark, and the rest is history…

Wait, there was an rainbow in the end too…

Four things I can learn from this show.

Firstly, Evan is like all of us. God reveal himself to us in different ways. But because God does not appear straight in front of us, we do not hear or know that he is talking to us. Sometimes, even though we know he is talking to us. We will try to avoid or run away from him. But despite all, God will keep talking to us.

Next, I learn to stand firm in whatever I do. Look at Evans, the whole world was against him. There was a point that even his family went away from him. But he stood firm in building the ark. He could stand firm because of his faith in what God told him. So despite all, he built the ark and save people from the flood. Sometimes in life, people may not agree with what you do. It can be your family, your best of friends or even your leaders. But if you know what you are doing is for God. If you know what you are doing is right. Stand strong!!!

Third, a quote from ‘god’ in the show, “Whatever I do, I do because I love you”

Last but not least. A.R.K- acts of random kindness

What is it saying? Well, if you do not know how to share God’s love, but you really want to. You start by showing acts of random kindness. You can start by smiling at someone, donate money to charity or even giving up your seats to the needy. It may not have an impact on the person immediately. But you will plant something into the person heart. Something that you may not know. Something that may affect his or her decision to accept Christ. Something that would change a life.

From your friend,

Afonso.

(a Youth in the ministry)