This post is written by Jared Bumpers as a companion for Unit 24, Session 3 of The Gospel Project for Adults, Volume 8: From Wonder to Rejection (Summer 2023).

The film 1917 recounts the mission of two British soldiers to deliver a time-sensitive message to another battalion of soldiers. ¹ The lead characters, lance corporals William Schofield and Tom Blake, are tasked with delivering a message from General Erinmore to Colonel Mackenzie of the 2^nd battalion of the Devonshire Regiment. The message warned Colonel Mackenzie of the German army’s strategic plan to retreat on the Western Front to the Hindenberg Line and then to overwhelm the British soldiers in an ambush attack. To heighten the suspense, Tom Blake’s brother was part of the 2^nd battalion of the Devonshire Regiment and likely would be killed if Will Schofield and Tom Blake failed to reach Colonel Mackenzie in time. The movie traces their tremendous effort to deliver the message before it is too late. Blake died before reaching the Devonshire Regiment, but Schofield completed the mission, delivered the message, and helped prevent the deaths of nearly 1,600 soldiers, including Blake’s brother, Joseph Blake. In the end, their mission was successful because they faithfully delivered the message in a timely manner. The movie conveys the following two major lessons with spiritual implications for believers today: (1) the reality and danger of war, and (2) the importance of delivering a life-saving message.

First, the movie reminds Christians of the reality and danger of war. Christians are engaged in a different type of battle than the one portrayed in 1917. In Ephesians 6:10-17, the apostle Paul talks about the spiritual battle in which Christians are engaged. Christians do not wrestle or battle against flesh and blood. We resist Satan and his followers—rulers, authorities, cosmic powers of darkness, and evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. The strength to stand against Satan and spiritual forces of darkness does not come from ourselves, however. Our strength comes from God, who empowers us and equips us with spiritual armor for the battle. The six pieces of spiritual armor listed in Ephesians 6 are essential for spiritual victory. Christians must equip the belt of truth, the chest plate of righteousness, the gospel shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit if they want to successfully resist Satan and stand firm. Equipped with the armor of God, Christians can resist Satan and His demonic followers, but they can also reject worldly things. In 1 John 2:15-17, John warned Christians against loving the world or the things in the world. Everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of one’s possessions—does not come from God and will not last. The sinful desires of the world and the material possessions in the world will be destroyed. Only those who know God and do His will are assured of eternal life. Therefore, Christians must rely on God for strength, equip His armor, and resist Satan and the things of the world.

Second, the movie reminds Christians of the importance of delivering a life-saving message. In 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Paul wrote about Satan’s work to blind the eyes of unbelievers. Satan, called the “prince of this age,” actively works to blind the eyes of unbelievers to the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ (vv. 3-4). He does not want them to see the beauty of Christ or believe the gospel. Fortunately, God is more powerful than Satan and can open the eyes of unbelievers to see the truth of the gospel and enable them to repent and believe in Christ for salvation (vv. 5-6). To accomplish this, God uses the proclamation of the gospel to open blind eyes and enable unbelievers to see the light of the gospel. This means that Christians have a critical message to share. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is good news to those who are blind in their sins. If they believe the gospel, they will be forgiven of their sins and reconciled to God. They just need to hear and believe the message. Christians, let’s resolve to proclaim Christ and watch God open blind eyes and soften hard hearts so countless unbelievers can see Jesus and believe the gospel.

1. “1917,” Wikipedia, www.wikipedia.org/wiki/1917_(2019_film), accessed October 7, 2022.

Jared Bumpers serves as Assistant Professor of Preaching and Evangelism at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. He is also a pastor at Fellowship KC in the Parkville area. He is married to Kim, and together they have four children: McCartnie, Rush, Maverick, and Jett.