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The movie “National Treasure” is an action-adventure movie as the hunt for a treasure begins. Each clue leads to a new location. The catch in all this is having the “Declaration of Independence” original copy in the treasure hunters’ possession. The problem is that it is safely guarded. Two teams try to get the Declaration of Independence and find adventure along the way.

Content Review:

I really liked this movie because it was fun to watch and had so many spiritual implications to take from. It is a must watch movie that addresses issues such as justice, penalty, and persistence, hope, and sacrifice.

Spiritual Implications:

In the movie for generations, the Gate’s family was in search of the elusive treasure that evaded them. Everyone around them thought they were crazy to believe in a myth but a child named Benjamin Gates never gave up hope on what his grandfather told him. Years later, he goes in search of the National Treasure.

When an impossible situation arises, he reminds his friend about Thomas Alva Edision who could not get the light bulb until after 2000 tries. He reminds his friend that Edison did not think that he failed but saw them as ways that did not work and figured out a way that worked without giving up.

In the same way, Christians who are presenting the Gospel about Jesus Christ who is Savior and Lord and walked this earth 2000 years ago should not give up if they feel like they do not succeed but should see it as ways of not doing it when presenting it to other people.

Christians who believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ are seen as crazy for believing in a myth. Yet, through the centuries the Christians have not stopped believing in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the hope that one day they will meet their Lord and Savior face to face. Until then, they know they have to face life’s adventures until that beautiful day when they come face to face before Jesus Christ!

“Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:24-29, NIV)

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1, NIV)

Gates gave up almost everything in search of this treasure including ties to his family in the beginning. That’s how much the treasure meant to him. He was persistent and had hope to find the treasure.

Gates persistence reminded me of the parable of the Kingdom of Heaven.

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:44-46, NIV)

In the movie, no matter how badly Gates wanted the treasure, Gates was not willing to do anything illegal until he realized that if he does not get the “Declaration of Independence”, it could fall into the wrong hands which he did not want to happen!

"You shall not steal. (Exodus 20:15, NIV)

In the movie, we see the bad guys doing whatever is necessary to get to the treasure which has become their idol while as the good guys want to get the treasure to protect it now from the bad guys. For the bad guys, the treasure is their whole world and nothing matters. For the good guys, there are more important things than the treasure of this world. The treasure is only a means to an end.

"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below." (Exodus 20:4, NIV)

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” (Matthew 16:25-27, NIV)

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:20-21, NIV)

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Matthew 6:24, NIV)

In the movie, we see the “Declaration of Independence” playing a key role in finding the hidden treasure. The declaration of independence reminds me of human beings who declare their independence from God Almighty and want to do things their own way. In the process, they miss the blessings God Almighty has for them. It is as if it is hidden from them. Those who do depend on the Almighty do find Him and the treasure that comes from having the blessings of the Almighty.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity.” (Jeremiah 29:13-14, NIV)

“For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." (Mark 4:22-23, NIV)

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21, NIV)

In the movie, for taking the ‘Declaration of Independence’, the law states that someone has to pay the price. It is very interesting how humanity has to pay the price for taking the declaration of independence from the Lord.

In the movie, the law is the FBI and they are looking for justice because the ‘Declaration of Independence’ was taken. They do find the one to pay the price and give an answer to those who are in higher authority. This allowed one of the individuals who could have been imprisoned to become free.

In our lives, we have taken the declaration of independence and have done things which have broken the law. The law cannot keep quiet but demands justice because we have broken the law. Because of the justice we deserve prison even though we do not want to be a prisoner. The only way we can be set free is if someone else pays the price to bring justice for the broken law. The Good News is Jesus Christ allowed Himself to pay the price so we could be set free. God gave the law and we broke it by our declaration of independence. Because of that we have separated ourselves from God. God in His love for us gave us a way out through His Son, Jesus Christ who decided to pay the price so God’s judgment will pass over us. Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for you and me so that we can be set free and not be a prisoner to sin. We need to accept what that Jesus took our place so we can be free!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV)

“Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” (Psalms 37:3-6, NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NIV)

“How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:14-15, NIV)

The movie ends with two people running into a house. In our lives, if we accept what Jesus did for us, we can run into the House of Heaven and also enjoy abundant life.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:10-11, NIV)

^“In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.You know the way to the place where I am going." (John 14:2-4, NIV)

Questions to Ponder:

What is your national treasure that you will go to any length to have it?

If you have taken the ‘Declaration of Independence’, why have you taken it or why have you not taken it?

If you found a treasure, what would you do with it?

What are things that are hidden in your life that keep you from blessings?

Who is your treasure and what would you do to protect your treasure in your life?