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National Treasure Free Will
12-27-2007
by Johann Snyder
Just because you know, or you think you know how someone is going to answer a question doesn’t mean you don’t ask. That’s a statement made by Abigail Chase in the new National Treasure movie, Book of Secrets, and it’s a statement that’s the key to unlocking one of the greatest mysteries of all time; if God is all knowning, then why do we ever need to ask him for anything? Why do we need to pray?
For whatever reason, the second National Treasure movie starts with our two leads, Ben Gates and Abigail Chase going through a time of difficulty and separation. I suppose this was to help lend the film a sense of romantic tension like the characters had in the first movie, but I found it to be a contrived plot device that really only led to recovering some of the same ground of the first film. But I guess it just goes back to that human of flaw where we find the pursuit of something more interesting than the possession – although personally I find it much more interesting when a couple stays together, makes things work and is actually happy as that’s something we just don’t see any more. In any event, that’s all beside the point, what I found interesting about the relationship this time around is that it reveals a key insight into our relationship with God. During one rather amusing scene, Chase and Gates create a distraction with an argument; a very loud argument. As it turns out, the fight is personal as much as it is for show. The problem is Abigail resents the fact that Ben doesn’t ask Abigail what she thinks or what she wants to do because he believe he already knows. Despite the fact that he’s usually right, Abigail feels it’s wrong for him not to ask the question just because he believes he already knows the answer. That’s not fair to her, and it doesn’t really show that he cares about her as a person or about her opinions. (The really fascinating tidbit about this is Dianne Kruger admitted this is an argument that she has on a regular basis with her boyfriend that she ended up using as they were improvising the fight scene for the film; much to the embarrassment and consternation of the boyfriend.)
Most of us would probably agree with that it’s rather insensitive for someone to forgo the courtesy of asking someone what they want, what they think, or what their opinion is just because we think we already know the answer. That’s just not how a healthy relationship should work. If that’s true, then why would we ever expect it to be different with God? God loves us. He loves us so much that in order for us to have a relationship with him, he sent his son Jesus to die on a cross to remove our sin so that we could be in the presence of a Holy God. However, many people are intimidated or put off from having a relationship with God because they believe he’s an overbearing know-it-all. He is after all omnipotent. If he knows everything, what kind of relationship could we possibly have? In that sense, we often end up sounding a lot like Abigail Chase. However, here’s the real amazing part; God understands that it would be unfair, unkind, insensitive and quite frankly not very nice for him to act without our permission. He doesn’t presume, he invites us to ask. Even though he truly does know exactly what we’re going to say, he still asks the question. He still invites us to share with him our needs, our desire, our hurts, our problems, and our hearts. God knows that a good relationship is one where there is communication; two-way communication. So because he cares for us, because he loves us and respects us, he asks us what we want, what we think; he asks us to share our thoughts with him. It’s an astounding prospect that we are invited to commune and talk with an Almighty God.
Naturally in National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Abigail and Ben work out their differences by the time the movie wraps up and all the clues are decoded and all the traps avoided. Ben understands that it’s simply a gesture of respect and care to ask Abigail the questions he already knows the answers to, and Abigail learns how special it is to have someone who knows you so well that they can anticipate exactly what you’re going to say and do. Happy endings rarely occur in real life, yet here’s an instance where we can enjoy one. God knows everything about you; what you’ll say, what you’ll do, how you’ll feel. God also loves you. He loves you so much that out of his care and respect for you, he doesn’t presume to take over your life because he knows all the answers and what’s best for you. Instead, he asks you first. He asks the questions he knows the answers to. He invites you to talk with him, to ask of him, to be with him. A relationship with God is the best happy ending any of us could have in life, and unlike the movies, it’s a happy ending that will last for all eternity instead of for only as long as the sequels are profitable. Of all the secrets and all the treasure unveiled in National Treasure, this secret to having understanding how we can have a relationship with God is the most valuable treasure of all time.
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