July 20, 2009
A Fistful of Dollars – one of the original spaghetti westerns. Clint Eastwood versus the bad guys. In this case, Clint ends up in a deadly confrontation with the evil Ramone.
Ramone has one mantra: “If you want to kill a man, aim for the heart.”
The movie culminates with a classic showdown. Ramone and his evil gang have terrorized the town and taken an old man captive – in order to lure Clint out. Suddenly, a huge explosion causes a massive cloud of dust to fill the air and obscure visibility. And, who should appear in the middle of the street, but the man himself. Poncho, six shooter, cigar.
“Let the old man go.”
Ramone steps into the street and aims his lever action Winchester at Clint’s heart. Boom. Clint falls down, but miraculously gets back up again. Again, boom. Time and time again Ramone pumps lead into Clint’s heart, but Clint keeps on coming.
“Aim for the heart Ramone. If you’re going to kill a man you have to aim for the heart.”
The taunting infuriates Ramone. Finally after all Ramone’s shots are spent, Clint reveals the iron plate he has strapped over his chest – with seven bullet indentations right over his heart. Ramone and his gang are then dealt with once and for all.
This is a great picture of the enemy’s strategy for us – he goes after our hearts. He knows that if he’s going to take you out, he has to take out your heart. If we lose heart we have lost everything. Your heart is the deepest part of you. Your place of deepest conviction. The true essence of who you are. The life of God is found in your heart.
Guard your heart by strapping your self with the truth. The truth of who God is. The truth of who you are. The truth of who your enemy is. Guard your heart by taking time to rest in the Lord. To listen. To drink in His love, His joy, His delight. Guard your heart by discovering God’s heart and knowing His pleasure. Guard you heart by resisting your enemy – engaging in spiritual warfare. Fight back.
Your enemy aims for your heart – guard it.
Proverbs 4:23
“Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
Strength and courage,
David