Being a rebel may not be as “cool” as you think it is …

Many of the most iconic and “coolest” characters ever created by Hollywood are the larger-than-life portrayals of fictional “rebels” who seem to have the courage to push back in ways many of us think we’d like to do but don’t quite have the nerve to try.

The string of “cool rebels” who secretly earn admiration by mass audiences was strongly influenced by the movie “The Wild One” in 1953 that featured Marlon Brando as Johnny Strabler. Brando’s fictional character is the charismatic leader of the Black Rebels Motorcycle Club, who clashes with a rival gang called the Beetles in a small town. Brando, in his black leather motorcycle jacket and white cap, is one of the most iconic images of the 1950’s. “Johnny” would inspire actor James Dean and countless others, and women fell for his “bad boy” charm. The script gave the world a famous quote, too. When asked what he was rebelling against, Johnny answers, “Whatddya got?”

Since then, Hollywood has consistently nurtured the thought that there’s something cool, something likeable about rebels from the likes of Johnny Strabler to Darth Vader, or Ferris Bueller to today’s “Vincent Chase” in the TV show and movie “Entourage.” The character of Chase is a young, handsome actor making it big in Hollywood and living life on his own terms, rebelliously. All of these characters could be described by singer Frank Sinatra, himself viewed as a bit of a rebel, in his song “My Way.” The anthem of the rebel is to do what they want, their way.

In spite of the many images Hollywood tries to craft, in “real life” the rebel usually is not the “good guy.”

That couldn’t be any more true than in our spiritual lives, where rebellion has resulted in a deep destruction that has shattered the lives of every human being ever to exist.

Yes, rebellion is that atrocious.

In God’s economy, there is nothing good — and certainly nothing “cool” — about a rebellious spirit. The onslaught of rebellion that followed the rebellious spirit of a single angel in heaven would ripple through existence to touch every human life. Rebellion started here …

Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world — was thrown down to the earth with all his angels – Revelation 12:7-9.

That rebellious spirit would be shared by human beings, starting with Eve in the Garden of Eden where she would allow her thinking to give sway to the deceptive suggestions of the original rebel. With proud hearts, wanting to do things our way, we’ve all followed suit and have rebelled against our Creator.

There’s nothing cool about that!

Pastor Chuck Swindoll tells the story of meeting Genenral Charles M. Duke, one of the astronauts on the Apollo 16 mission. He told Chuck about driving the rover on the moon and walking on the surface. Chuck asked him, “Once you were there, weren’t you free to make your own decisions and carry out some of your own experiments … you know, sort of do as you pleased … maybe stay a little longer if you liked?” He smiled back, “Sure, Chuck, if we didn’t want to return to earth!” He then described the intricate plan, the exact and precise instructions, the essential discipline, the instant obedience that was needed right down to the split second. He talked about how they landed on the surface with only one minute of extra fuel. Chuck says, “I got the distinct impression that a rebel doesn’t fit inside a spacesuit. Whoever represents the United States in the space program must have an unconditional respect for authority.”

Just as rebels don’t fit well in a NASA space program, they don’t fit well in God’s program, either. We might be tempted to think that grace means we can experiment or do what we please. But the truth is, God demands obedience from us. Jesus stated that fact this way:

If you love me, obey my commandments. – John 14:15.

Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. – Matthew 12:30

To disobey Christ is to rebel against love, but the fruit of love is obedience. It’s an obedience that Jesus insists upon; all those who rebel against Him are considered to be His enemies, and all His enemies will be defeated …

Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. – Hebrews 10:11-13

For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment. And God did not spare the ancient world — except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood. Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people. – 2 Peter 2:4-6

What fruit is displayed in your life: obedience to God as the fruit of loving Jesus Christ? Or the fruit of ruin and impending defeat from insisting on doing things your way? Do you think it’s cool to disobey Jesus Christ, or do you love Him enough to obey what He says?

Scotty