Sifting Thor

Thor is arrogant, prideful and scorns authority. His adopted evil brother, Loki, causes mischief that exposes Thor's selfishness. Thor's immaturity forces his father, King Odin, to strip him of his power and leave him stranded on earth. King Odin wants to relinquish the kingship to Thor, but he knows that unless his son learns obedience and self-sacrifice, he will never be a good king.

The evil brother, Loki, reigns while the king recovers in "odinsleep." Loki lies, deceives, kills and creates chaos, while the exiled Thor comes to terms with his selfishness and learns how to serve and sacrifice for others. King Odin allows evil to dominate for a time, knowing that the evil will sift the impurities from his son. Once evil is subdued, Thor finally finds his footing on the righteous path to his destiny.

King Odin did not create the life of Loki, but he brought this evil son into his family. Why would he allow evil into his kingdom? Because the evil is what sifts the arrogance, pride and disobedience from Thor.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

"Peter said, 'Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.'”

"But Jesus said, 'Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.'”

- Luke 22.31-34 (NLT)

God allows evil to sift Peter. Peter is brave and strong, but hiding inside of him is his selfish will. He wants to expand the Kingdom of God, but he hasn't experienced a trial that exposes his deception. When his life is threatened, the deep rooted self-centered motives are revealed. Instead of dying for Christ, he goes into self-preservation mode by lying three times before the rooster crows.

Selfishness is the utlimate thorn is our side and the killer of God's power in our lives. By default we all struggle with the idol of self, but God allows the Enemy to reign for a time so our pride, arrogance and disobedience (all outcomes of selfishness) can be sifted. Death to self is the only way we can fully have the power of Christ, and it is the only way we will find freedom from the trappings of this world: worry, doubt, fear, lust, pride, etc. Once our sinful nature dies, we can walk victoriously in the abundance that Jesus promised us (John 10.10 NASB).

Even though evil is allowed to reign, God will have the final and complete victory. He has an amazing purpose for all His children, and He needs the sinful nature to be sifted from us. Life trials are not fun, but when we trust the hand of God, they can pull out our impurities and shape us into the image of Christ.

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."

- Romans 5.3-5 (NLT)

* Obviously, I only believe in the One True God found in the Trinity: God, the Creator; Jesus, the Redeemer; and the Holy Spirit, the Counselor. However, I do use movies like Thor as culturally relevant analogies to illustrate spiritual truths.