Hanscom - Spiritual Warfare

Among many of the films that I've watched, I have realized how the conflicts the main characters go through are intense spiritual battles. As I mentioned before, I believe we are constantly warring against evil and darkness: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV). One of my favorite movies, Anastasia, to me demonstrates this kind of warfare that is not only physical, but spiritual.

The main character Anastasia forgets her identity after Rasputin, an evil spiritual man, tries to destroy the royal Romanov family line (her family). Rasputin thought he had killed her and the rest of her family to prevent anyone else from rising to power, but he was wrong. Anastasia was alive and fighting to remember who she was before she hit her head trying to flee from Rasputin. She meets Demetrius (Demitri) who helps Anastasia remember who she is and find her grandmother, the only family member still remaining after the horrible massacre. While they are traveling together, Rasputin releases dark spirits or demon-like creatures to throw them off course. For instance, the evil spirits try to derail the train they traveled on, or make her sleep-walk off the edge of a boat into hurricane waters. However, she manages to make it out alive and destroy Rasputin's evil powers by not succumbing to fear. Her choice to say 'no' to fear, isolation and hatred puts Rasputin to an end. Her battle reflects the same battle we face every day--the enemy will tempt us to fear, but we have the choice to love others, even our enemies.

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