Growing up, going to the movies was a treat. Most Friday nights, my dad would go to the drive-in by himself while my mom took us grocery shopping. On rare occasions, I was invited to accompany my dad to the movies. One afternoon, my dad let me come with him to see “The Way of the Dragon”. This was the movie debut of Chuck Norris and starred Bruce Lee. I was just 10 years old and still remember that day at the movies. Two martial arts icons in one great action adventure!
At the completion of every movie, “The End” were the last words on the screen. It meant the story was over and everything was finished. Now you can gather your things, race to the bathroom, and head home. Those days have been gone for some time now. For the past twenty years or so, some production studios (cough … cough … Marvel … cough … cough) have kept us wondering. Is that it? Is it over? We are forced to wait through countless minutes of credits to make sure we’ve seen all there is to see. We prayed earnestly that the credits were short and for no line in the bathroom! Remember that day at the movies? Did you stay until the end?
How the story ends
There are many stories in the scriptures where we are taught valuable, spiritual lessons. Although, I often wonder how the story ends for some of these people. There are a few stories we are blessed to read that have a beginning, middle, and end. Most of these accounts are found in the Book of Mormon. We follow the lives of the authors of the various books that make up this holy scripture from the beginning, through many experiences, and often concluding with the death of the author recorded by the next generation. But, in the New Testament, I’ve frequently wondered about those who interacted personally with the Savior. People come into the story of His life and leave after only a verse or two. What was the end of their story? Did they all become disciples? How were their lives changed?
10 Lepers
Pondering these questions, in Luke 17, we read of ten lepers in a certain village that shouted to Jesus “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” Jesus then instructed them to go and show themselves to the priests and as they went, they were healed of their disease. Nine lepers ran off to the priests, while one, a Samaritan, “turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks”.
Sprint to the Priests
During my missionary service in Thailand, I had the unfortunate opportunity to see many people afflicted with leprosy. This was a disease I had always thought had been eradicated long ago. Personally witnessing the ravages of leprosy gives me a unique insight and compassion for those so afflicted. There was no cure for leprosy. Fear of spreading the disease caused one to be ostracized from their family, job, and community. If I were one of the ten lepers healed at this time, the overwhelming excitement of being healed would have caused me to sprint at full speed to the priests! To be declared clean would allow me to return home to my loved ones and be reunited with my community.
Would I have stopped for a moment in my excitement at having my life back? Maybe I would have taken the time to say, “Thank you”? Would I have fallen on my face at the feet of the Savior and washed His feet in tears of gratitude? Or, in my haste to hold my wife and children once again, would I have forgotten at that moment to praise my healer and glorify God?
What about the nine?
What was the end of the story for the other nine lepers? Did they repent of their momentary lapse in gratitude? Did they testify of the power of God unto their families? Perhaps they returned with their wives and children to find Jesus and follow Him? Those answers are lost to history.
The End
How many times have I been healed, blessed, saved, comforted, or made whole, and yet failed to stop and offer praise to my God for His miraculous blessings? Would to God that I could say that I have always done so, but in truth, I have not. Luckily for me, like any of the last 32 Marvel movies, my story isn’t finished, and I have a few cut scenes left. May those revealing moments show me offering Him thanks indeed. One day I too hope to hear Him say, “Arise … thy faith hath made the whole”. “The End”.
