Last year, I finally sat down to do what I’ve wanted to do for a long time – develop a lecture based on the classic Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Only, after reviewing it, I found out that I couldn’t do a lecture on it, but a series of lectures.
That’s because even though this movie has an overarching theme––that one life touches another, and that life touches another, etc––there are many aspects of this film that could be preaching, even if it’s not on purpose.
For example, at the beginning of this movie, we see a bunch of houses, neighborhoods and churches and hear a bunch of people praying for George Bailey. And, yes, they may not see what happens in Heaven, but we do.
Like Smithsonian Magazine writes:
“The angels, Joseph and Franklin, appear as beams of light in space, bringing to life an apprentice named Clarence, a watchmaker, who has yet to earn his wings by helping help people.”
While we know this isn’t how it theologically works, it’s still lovely to see this particular rendition of an angel helping George. So we can recount how God heard our prayers and sent angelic help on our behalf, though not quite like Clarence.
What about Clarence?
He waited patiently in Heaven for 220 years to finally “earn his wings”. So what can be said about him? In a word: perseverance.
Sure, this may not have been Capra’s intention to give some sort of biblical illustration, but Clarence Oddbody, AS2, gave us a small picture of what it means to never give up. .
William Barclay said, “Endurance is necessary to run that race. Endurance, translated from the ancient Greek word hupomone, does not mean the patience to sit down and accept things, but the patience to master them… It is a determination, without haste but without delay. , moving forward steadily and without deviation.” And by gum, it’s Clarence Oddbody.
FAST FACT: The Original Cast of “It’s a Wonderful Life” Cary Grant as George Bailey.
Here’s another question: in the case of George Bailey, what about the idea of God’s plan surpassing our own?
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a time for everything under heaven.” Proverbs 16:9 says: “Man plans his way in his heart, but Jehovah determines his steps.”
And with those two simple verses, we’re almost 90 percent “It’s a Wonderful Life.” You see, all George Bailey wanted to do was get out of the little town of Bedford Falls, with only one horse, and see the world.
He saved, saved and saved to make that dream come true. Since he was a kid, that’s all he really dreamed of; It was the only thing he wanted to do in life.
But unfortunately, one thing after another happened––and, just as he was about to leave, an emergency occurred that forced him to put his dream aside, and he had to stay in Bedford Falls to take care of business.
His plan was interrupted. But God’s plan unfolded.
And what are those plans? To touch lives he might not have otherwise he wouldn’t have stayed in Bedford Falls.
Perhaps the biggest lesson we learn from “It’s a Wonderful Life” is the title of the story. We know that George Bailey, an ordinary man, had a rich life. We can see a contrast between the humble George Bailey and the mean Mr. Potter.
While George was never materially rich, he had a lot of love, while Mr. Potter had a lot of money but no love. Similar to what we read in 1 Corinthians 13, where Paul lists some things that we can boast about, but without love we have nothing. .
Although George may never have had the wealth of Mr. Potter, and sometimes lacking a few “good things”, George Bailey finally has a beautiful home in a beautiful town, a wonderful family, and many friends. And as we take the final lesson, no matter what he lacks in material possessions or never achieves his dreams, “no one is a failure when it comes to friends.”
And his friends come to his aid when he breaks down and gets out. And he almost missed that lucky chance, if he had jumped off that bridge just before.
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But with the help of Clarence Odbody, second-rate angel, George realizes how different the town of Bedford Falls and even beyond, would be different if he had never lived.
He saved a boy’s life from poisoning when Mr. Gower accidentally put the wrong ingredient in his medicine. By saving that boy’s life, he saved Mr. Gower’s life because he would go to jail and be ostracized by the community for doing so.
George Bailey also saved his brother’s life, and conversely, his brother served in World War II and won the Congressional Medal of Honor for saving the lives of men on a transport vehicle. load.
He’s touched so many lives, and he doesn’t even realize it. And today, as we enter the Christmas season and then the New Year, I want to ask you, how can you be someone like George Bailey?
Maybe you already are, but maybe you just need to stop and realize what other people’s lives would be like if you weren’t born. And maybe it’s time to intentionally live a life like George Bailey.
Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of It’s A Wonderful Life: Now considered one of the iconic Christmas movies, this was a rare flop for Capra upon release, though it was ultimately a blessing when it fell. into the public domain making it a mainstay on television where it achieved legendary status pic.twitter.com/lDoSbK8PgH
— Samuel J. May (@sjmay92) December 20, 2021
This movie is an example of how Hollywood and our entire American culture used to be. We used to be people filled with the warmth, community, and kindness that this movie embodies.
And, yes, if they wanted to call us Christian nationalists, I suppose they could, but they were wrong. We do not want the United States to become a Christian country through the law, as liberals/radicals get it wrong.
But we want our country to go back to––even to overcome––the Christian culture that we had not long ago when this movie was made––the church was full of people, people prayer and a culture that reflects Christian values as embodied in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
But to do this, we must first model the Christian values of love, service, and kindness as embodied in the life of George Bailey and pray for revival and Another Great Awakening.
Jeff Miller is a husband, father, pastor, artist, writer, and all-around good guy (for the most part). He lives in the Western Finger Lakes Region of New York State with his wife, Diana. He has three grown children. Jeff has two blogs of his own, Take a closer look and Flashback Friday Christian Music Review. Jeff is also a contributor to Wind Kingdomwhere you can read his lectures online.
This story originally appeared in See more closely.
