| (Copyright 09-08-2024) by Dwight Fleming (Oroville, California) |
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| Gary Cooper departs from his usual hero movie character in this 1945 film, “Along Came Jones.” The movie starts out with a stagecoach shooting and robbery of $40,000 by the notorious gunslinger, Monte Jarred, played by Dan Duryea. Melody Jones (Cooper) and his sidekick, George Fury (William Demarest) stumble into a town which mistakes Jones for the famed gunslinger. Melody spots an attractive lady and is smitten at first sight. She turns out to be the real Monte’s girlfriend, Cherry (Loretta Young). When Cherry realizes that everyone has mistaken Jones for her boyfriend, she takes advantage of the situation and plays along in hopes of sending any posse after Jones so that her boyfriend villain has a better chance of getting away. Melody Jones is dazzled by Cherry’s unexpected attention toward him and falls for her scheme. After helping Melody and George escape from danger in town, Cherry directs them to head south from her ranch outside of town. Melody and George ride south but Melody begins to get wise to Cherry’s using them as a decoy for her boyfriend, Monte. This is where the story not only gets more intriguing but portrays the age-old drama of a man’s attempt to win the heart of a woman who is already devoted to another man. At some point in the movie, Cherry has to decide which man is more worthy of her affection and loyalty. The movie is not only filled with humor and good entertainment, but also illustrates a profound challenge presented to the whole world. “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites . . . ‘No!’ Replied the people. ‘We will serve the Eternal’ Then Joshua told them, ‘You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Eternal [and only true God]'” (Joshua 24:15). This same challenge is later echoed by the prophet Elijah: “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Eternal is God, follow him. But if Baal is God, follow him” (I Kings 18:21). Who is the true God? Is it Allah which Islam worships? Or Buddha? Or modern technology? The true God is the God of Israel and of the Bible. He proclaims to the world: “Gather the nations together! Assemble the peoples of the world! Which of their idols has ever foretold such things? Which can predict what will happen tomorrow? Where are the witnesses of such predictions? Who can verify that they spoke the truth? “‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the Eternal, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe and understand that I am He [the true God]. Before me there was no God formed, nor shall there be any after me'” (Isaiah 43:9-10). Just as Cherry had to choose which man to follow, so must the world choose which God to follow. And what choice did Cherry make? To learn the answer, you must watch the movie. Which God will the world choose to follow? For the answer, read the Book of Revelation. Enjoy the movie and stay true to the high calling of our merciful Creator, the only true God. Introduction: https://youtu.be/Vpo0o8fw6wM?si=O8ma2k8nRwVklscv Along Came Jones: https://youtu.be/uNTgy1l1D8A?si=2PEQFsCF4ke8qkd9 ———————————————————————————————————- See Dwight Fleming’s other articles at: Fleming, Dwight – Church of God, Bismarck (church-of-god-bismarck.org) ———————————————————————————————————- |
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