pilgrim people

Covenant of Works (con't)

What does Lord of the Rings have to do with the CoW? Well, consider the scene in Peter Jackson's rendition of J.R.R.Tolkien's masterpiece in which Gandalf and Pippen appear to be facing an imminent doom as the armies of Mordor are breaking through the walls of Minis Tirith. Thinking all is lost, the little hobbit says, "I didn't think it would end this way." Gandalf then responds, "End? No, the journey doesn't end here. There's another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back and all changes to silver glass. And then you see it." Pippen, now hanging on Gandalf's words, asks, "What? See what, Gandalf?" Smiling, the wizard replies, "White shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise."

Maybe you're thinking, "Okay...I still don't get it. What does that have to do with the covenant of works?" Everything. (No, this isn't some lame attempt to show how LOTR is a "Christian" movie or debate the theology of Tolkien [he was actually a staunch Roman Catholic who based his varying races upon the medieval chain of being]; it's much broader than that.)This scene has gripped the hearts of millions of viewers for the same reason that humans are often stirred inside whenever film, literature, music, or art speak of a better life beyond the grave. There is a vague sense of hope that all people experience to one degree or another, because the hope of heaven has been stamped upon the human conscience. This is what the CoW was all about: it set before humans the goal of glorified life, symbolized in the Tree of Life.

As Paul says in Romans 2.15, "[Gentiles] show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness." This testimony of conscience of which Paul speaks is not limited to a basic sense of right and wrong (which also goes back to the original CoW), but also to the hope that humans have for something better in the future. It is part of being human. We were made for the Tree of LIfe!

Adam was not placed in the garden to live in perpetual probationary status. He was given the promise of glorified life upon the condition of his personal fulfillment of the CoW. When he failed to reach that goal, a new Adam and Representative was needed so that we could be brought to that life for which we were created. That's why we love the happy ending in Rev 21-22 where the ToL reappears and all things are made right, and there is no potential of defilement, suffering or evil ever again. It is part and parcel of being human. (Incidentally, that is also why we love happy endings in movies and books.)

MGB