Bourne Again In Christ

“Look at what they make you give.”

If you asked me to name a movie franchise that I think focuses most on the theme of redemption, I’d have to say Bourne. Last year, I watched all five films (within two weeks, might I add). Beyond the shakycam cinematography, epic spy music, and tension, the theme of redemption shone through.

Bourne didn’t know who he was.

If you haven’t yet watched any of these movies, I’ll quickly fill you in. The first film begins with Jason Bourne (portrayed by Matt Damon) waking up aboard a fishing boat. He has no idea who he is, where he came from, or what happened in his past. He remembers nothing.

But deep within Bourne, he wants to find out about his previous life. Isn’t that what everyone would do? But as he begins to search for answers, it becomes clear he isn’t your everyday Joe. Especially when he finds a gun in his bank vault and assassins try to kill him.

Bourne sought to discover his past.

At this point, Bourne realizes that he must have done some pretty crazy things in his previous life, and probably not great ones. Yet Bourne doesn’t want to live that life. He tries to turn things around and vanish from the grid. He wants to put the spying and violence behind him.

But, like how the devil tries to prevent us from moving on from our failures, Bourne is forced back into the real world. He’s forced to look for those who made him hunt and kill others. However, this isn’t your typical revenge story. Bourne does something few others have done.

Bourne acknowledged his mistakes.

Bourne first acknowledged what he’d done, and then worked to put his lifestyle of assassination and murder behind him. He didn’t deny the things he did, but chose to move on from them. He sought to discover his past so he could remedy it. He didn’t go in and kill those who were working against him for sport.

Bourne worked for redemption.

I can almost liken Bourne’s journey (minus the violence) to the journey Christian undertook in John Bunyan‘s Pilgrim’s Progress. There were many obstacles and pitfalls along the way, but Pilgrim (and Bourne) worked through them to find out the truth. They worked towards the better future they knew awaited them. Bourne didn’t let his past rule him.

How does this tie into us nowadays? Well, we all sin, we all do things we regret, and we’ve all lived lives with mistakes. It comes down to what we’re going to do about it.

Are you going to let your past life define you, haunt you, stalk you? Because, alas, the devil will always try his hardest to bring it up. Or will you do what Jason Bourne did? Will you work to fix your mistakes, and put your old life behind you in place of a new, better life?

Jesus offers us the same redemption.

While Bourne’s story is only fictional, the concept of redemption is anything but. Jesus offers you the same kind of redemption. He knows what you’ve done, and the places where you’ve screwed up. But He offers you His redemption nonetheless.

Jesus offers you a new life. Yes, there will be struggles in this life, just like there were for Bourne. But the point is, if you accept this new life, you can put your old life behind you. You can instead “fix your eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (Hebrew 12:2).

Jesus’ redemption is eternal, and will literally change your life. No matter what you’ve done, Jesus doesn’t care. One of the most recognizable quotes from the Bourne franchise is “Look at what they make you give.” Bourne had to give everything to an unethical cause until he realized his mistake.

Will you instead give your “Yes” to Jesus, and the true greatest cause? He makes you give everything, but you also gain everything. As Matthew 16:25 (NIV) declares, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it.”

Will you let your past rule you, or accept His future?