Friends, I'm pleased to announce the release of my newest short film entitled At What Cost? This is a faith-based Christian short film with a powerful message for today's people, a message that sits at the heart of the gospel being proclaimed in our world today.
A STORY WRITTEN FROM INSPIRATION
It was during a youth week-long revival meeting, the final day of the series. The guest speaker was on his last topic, "Judgement with Jesus." I sat a few rows from the front listening to the guest speaker as he concludes the revival series with this final sermon. What really triggered my inspiration was when he concluded with an illustration. Think of yourself, convicted, being brought forth before a court hearing to be tried on the countless sins you've accumulated throughout your lifetime. How would you feel? The sense of guilt must be impossible to bare, and all you know is that the death sentence is only a heartbeat away. That's the condition that we're in literally. The influence of sin severed our connection with God, and according to Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death..." But the story does not end there. The verse continues on saying, "...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus." This was the idea that inspired me to write this story that you now see in this short film.
Christ's sacrifice on the cross is central to the message of the gospel and the key to redemption for our human race, yet many don't fully appreciate this gift of salvation because they haven't fully realized the extent of the damage that sin has corrupted in our lives. That was something I wanted to emphasize in the film.
ABOUT THE STORY
Eden sits in the chapel staring at a window-shaped cross at the front of the room. His friend joins him in the small chapel. Eden reflects back on his life. In the past, he represented the typical lukewarm Christian who would attend church every Sabbath, but never cultivated a growing, intimate relationship with God. It was only then that he listened to the Holy Spirit's call for revival and a transformation of character in his life. As he sits in the chapel, Eden reflects back at his life. A life full of swearing, malicious gossiping, pride of self, theft, lust, the list goes on. He then reads a passage from the Bible:
"For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me." --Romans 7:14-20 (NKJV)
Eden then imagines himself as a convicted criminal, full of guilt and shame, being led to court to face charges from his transgression of God's Law. As the court hearing begins, he listens in on the case review by the prosecutor, none other than Satan. He exposes Eden for the sins he committed, impressing guilt, sorrow, and shame upon Eden. Ellen G. White, an American Christian pioneer, a prolific author (wrote more than 5,000 periodical articles and 40 books) and formed the Seventh-day Adventist Church, gives a detailed insight into the devil's role as a prosecutor:
"The people of God are here represented as a criminal on trial....Satan is standing at his right hand as his adversary. He is accusing the children of God, and making their case appear as desperate as possible. He presents before the Lord their evil doing and their defects. He shows their faults and failures, hoping they will appear of such a character in the eyes of Christ that He will render them no help in their great need. --Christ Object Lessons by Ellen G. White, pg. 167 & 168
Eden's defense attorney takes the floor, and appeals to the court Eden's innocence. But Eden, in the background, questioned why would someone would put forth any effort to save him, even though he knew that the death sentence was imminent. As the judge and prosecutor question the defense attorney's claim and ask if there was any proof, he bowed his head and lifted hand, revealing nail-pierced wounds. It becomes clear. Eden's defense attorney is Jesus himself.
Christ's death on the cross silences the accuser's claims to declare Eden, a convicted criminal guilty, and it pardons his transgressions. Christ's decision to voluntarily give up the glory of heaven, to come down to a sinful world to save a doomed human race is, to me, mind-boggling. It just gives you a glimpse of his infinite love. Christ, represented as Eden's defense attorney, provided living proof of Eden's innocence, and it clears his name out of the records. Eden saw the infinite love that Christ showed towards him and because of that, his heart was captivated by Christ's abounding, everlasting love. It was then that Eden gave his life to Christ. Christ knew that the human race has gone too far in sin. And the price for redeeming man from sin required a sinless divine being to step down from heaven, and be sacrificed for the sake of man.
"I then saw the glorious Redeemer, beautiful and lovely; that He left the realms of glory and came to this dark and lonely world to give His precious life and die, the just for the unjust. He bore the cruel mocking and scourging, wore the plaited crown of thorns, and sweat great drops of blood in the garden, while the burden of the sins of the whole world was upon Him. The angel asked, "What for?" Oh, I saw and knew that it was for us; for our sins He suffered all this, that by His precious blood He might redeem us unto God!" --Early Writings by Ellen G. White, pg.49
"Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. 'With His stripes we are healed.'" --Desire of Ages by Ellen G. White, pg. 25
"For when we were still without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
--Romans 5:6-8 (NKJV)
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| Cast and crew from left to right: Marianne Catangay (make-up artist), Abdiel Novoa (prosecutor - Satan), Eden Henry II (lead actor, defendant), Shelton Rivera (defense attorney - Jesus), Dehron Hill (judge - God), Rodney Balmes (baliff, supervising sound editor), Sara Talavera (behind the scenes videographer/photographer), Justin Niere (director), Jerel Moral (boom mic operator), Robin Bondoc. |
***A behind the scenes video will be coming out soon! Look out for it!
Here's some behind the scene photos from the set.
