When one considers the carnage wrought by us since our creation, the term humankind becomes a darkly bitter wordplay for beings made in God’s image, gifted with the possibility of a relationship with the Lord God Almighty, the epitome of love. The destruction, often from our struggles to subjugate others, invariably results in the diminution, if not eradication, of their will. Our weaponry for accomplishing this has transitioned from the crudeness of the odd rock or sharpened stick into the subtle terror of the neutron bomb, a weapon inflicting little damage to the surrounding physical landscape even as it deletes all living creatures through lethal emission of radiation.
Inception centers on the more subtle yet similarly soul-destroying weapon of inserting an idea in another’s dream state, providing the planters powers of predestination within an otherwise normal, spontaneously responding individual. In effect, inception empties a person of his or her ability to independently choose rather than emptying a building of the people in it.
For some, Inception is itself a fascinating, maze-like structure filled with soulless characters that present nothing worth caring about. For me, these characteristics of Inception represent the darkness of life apart from a relationship with Christ. As Jesus said, “from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” The film’s crew that works to influence one man’s thoughts is little different from the cares we accumulate, whether they be work or status or possessions or fame. If I am not careful to draw close to Christ, those cares will take the nothing I have in this world apart from God and rob me of the desire, the thought to know him. Apart from God we are as lost in an eternal limbo as those who die deep within Inception’s dreams. It is Christ alone who enlivens us with his Spirit, engaging us little by little to grasp the depth of God’s love for us.
For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matthew 25
Michael G
