People are rushing to the newest romance movie, “Me Before You,” and it will rip your heart out. Viewers instantly fall in love with Will and Louisa, and who wouldn’t? It’s a fairy tale between a tragically disabled man and a young vibrant girl. It’s a seemingly harmless love story, until the ending.
Will makes the choice, along with the support of his family and eventually Louisa, to end his own life. Most would argue his life was too unbearable to take another breath. He would be miserable if he continued living, right?
“Or do you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
You are not your own.
Life is a precious thing. Voices in society will tell you life is too hard. They’ll tell you the messes in life aren’t worth the beautiful ending. Those voices scream about the imperfections and unhappy circumstances, leaving out the masterpiece your Creator is crafting. Those voices don’t see any beauty at all. They see darkness, and they want you to see it too.
Don’t fall for it.
Those voices have grown smarter. They aren’t just screaming about the mess: they’re painting a picture of their own. Same mess on the inside, only gilded in romance.
“Me Before You” shows the romance. It magnifies the emotions of the characters in the story, making those emotions contagious to the viewers. Viewers see the handsome man who had his adventurous life taken from him. They see a young gorgeous girl in need of adventure. They see the love the two share, the dances, the trips, the smiles, the heartache; they see the romance. But the romance clouds the action this movie is promoting: murder. Not only does this man choose to end his own life, but he has the support of his family. Will didn’t have the ability to do much on his own, therefore others had to drive him to his death-- literally. At that point, the action turns from suicide to murder. Whatever you call it, it’s degrading the value of life; and we fall for it.
Media, like this movie, is so dangerous, yet the danger is so concealed. That’s where the lies seep into our thoughts. That’s where we become comfortable with the faulty truth of society, like suicide and murder. The music we listen to, the movies we watch, the people we surround ourselves with, they’re all molding our morals. Like it or not, what you put in comes out.
Don’t let the media fool you. Don’t fall prey to the pretty lights and fuzzy love stories. Ground yourself in the Word of God, and don’t be afraid to stand on it when faulty fairy tales get thrown your way. Whether you realize it or not, media like this movie, gives no hope to the victim contemplating suicide. Don’t let the media be the only voices the hurting hear. Be their voice of hope.
Life spent with the Lord is so precious, so sweet. He’s given you a gift, and when you see this life as a gift, it changes your whole perspective. Live this life the Creator has given you, and live it with Him. He’ll show you the splendor and walk with you through the pain. There is no hope like hope in Jesus Christ. Talk to Him. Love Him. Let Him love you and walk with you through this crazy, messy, beautiful life.
