Infected with Life

Last night, I watched the movie The Green Mile, again. For some reason, every time I see that movie on television, I cant help but watch it.

But as I watched the very end of the movie, one line grabbed my attention this time. This one line seemed to jump out of the television straight to my heart, and I am still thinking about it this morning.

In this movie, John, the wrongly accused prisoner, had a supernatural gift from God, which allowed him to be able to "see" the past and the truth of what happened to people. He could see into the hearts of people to understand their true colors. And he could physically feel the hurt that others experienced.

In the last scene, Paul, the former prison guard who was in his old age now, was telling a friend about when he was younger and worked at the prison when John was an inmate on deathrow. He talked about John and the miraculous powers and insight from God that he had. Then he tells his friend how on one particular day, John gripped his hand tightly, and he was given a taste of this supernatural vision and insight. Paul was able to see what John could see in his heart and mind, and able to feel the pain and heartbreak and horror of what John had been feeling all those years.

It was almost more than Paul could endure, and it left him weak, crying and in awe of what had just happened. But what Paul says at the end of the movie as he explains this occurrence to his friend, is what struck me. He said as a result of that experience, that John had "infected him with life".

In the movie, this term meant that Pauls aging process was slowed down,and he was living much longer than humans normally do. He was 108 years old when the movie ended, and still in great health.

His interpretation of being "infected with life" was more a curse than a gift, for he had to constantly watch loved ones dies,as he outlived them.

But the term "infected with life" really stuck in my mind. "Infected with life". Hmmmm, I began to think how God would view that term, as it applies to us.

I thought about how "infecting us with life" is exactly what God does when we accept Him as our Savior. He infects us, with life. He penetrates every cell of our body with life - not just the physical aspect of being alive, but the spiritual aspect of being truly alive.

Being infected with life from Jesus, simply means the impartation of new life in our hearts and souls. A new life that runs rampant in our veins. A life filled with joy, peace and hope, even when life itself seems joyless, peaceless, and hopeless.

The trouble is, that normal life can infect us as well. Life in todays world can infect our minds, infiltrating our thoughts with things that are not of God, and replacing the infection of Gods life, with the infections of the enemy.

That stinkin thinkin we have been talking about, really begins with the world infecting us with its ways.

There are lots of opportunities for us to get infected with the world, such as -

viewing pornography.... sitcoms that portray the average American family as broken with a lack of values.... TV shows that destroy the sacredness of purity and saving sex for marriage...... teen movies that promote sex, drugs, selfishness, cruelty and deceit.....horror movies that make murder and torture seem entertaining and accepted.... romance movies that make infidelity appear enticing and exciting.... romance books that portray true love in such a way that leaves husbands never being able to meet false expectations......bars that lure people in with scantily clad waitresses..... vanity commercials that make us feel inferior and in need of personal change....filthy language... racism..... jealousy... hatred... dishonesty..... revenge.... lack of compassion.... complacency.

These are worldy things that can infect us inside and out. We see them with our eyes, we process it in our minds, then it infects hearts, and ultimately infects souls. A gradual acceptance and tolerance of things that are not pleasing to God, but accepted in the world, is a sure sign that infection has begun. A gradual justification of wrong doings, because the world seems to condone it, is a sure sign that infection has begun.

So many things infect our eyes every day, and make their way to our hearts. If only we could see through the eyes of God, like Paul was able to do through John in the movie. If only we could see the power in the truth. The depth of love. The reason for righteousness. The joy that God offer. If we could, I am sure that we would be left weak, crying and in awe as well.

We have a choice each day of what will run through our veins, by what we allow to infect our hearts and minds. Of whether we choose life from God, or get caught up in what the world calls life; Gods ways, or the enemys ways. Gods thoughts, or the enemys thoughts.

Stinkin thinkin may grow in the mind, but it starts with what our eyes and ears see and hear, and ends up infecting our heart and soul in the process. Stinkin thinkin can be one of those infections, that spreads rapidly within us.

A little challenge for us all today, myself included, is to think about the things that we are "seeing" on a daily basis. Maybe today, we can do a little self examination, and look deeper into our lives, and the habits or routines that we do on any given week.

And then, consider the type of infections that we may be getting from those things. Are the normal things that fill our daily lives filling our heart and mind with the rinciples, values and actions that God would approve of, or are they filling our heart and mind with an infection that if left unnoticed, could eventually pull us away from Christ?

You know, infections are easiest to cure, if caught at an early stage, before it gets out of hand and has spread.

Be infected today, with life, from Christ.


Romans 5:18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. (NLT)

Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 15:22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. (NLT)