Saved from the Monsters We Have Made

   

 

  Last week, I read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. To say the least, it was fascinating. All Victorian Gothic thrills aside, Shelley presents some interesting philosophical points in her famed novel.

  Victor Frankenstein, the story's protagonist, is a young scientist. In his studies, he becomes obsessed with the idea of creating life. So much so, that he devotes two years to the work of creating a being that becomes his ruin. At the end of his labors, Frankenstein is horrified by his work and abandons the creature he strived so long to make. Being a finite creation himself, Frankenstein is unable to govern his creation, first as it seeks his help and then again as it exacts vengeance upon him for refusing to assist it.

  When Frankenstein made his monster, he was appalled by it. In the end, he worked to destroy it as it wrought havoc and horror on his life and loved ones. Victor Frankenstein tried to play God, and in doing so, discovered his own limitations. He could not control the work of his own hands.  The physical strength and ugliness of his monster terrified Frankenstein. As an imperfect creator, the being he made in his own image was gruesome.

  God who made all life is a perfect Creator:  Holy, righteous, loving and benevolent. Mankind, the creatures He made in His image, are free-willed and are consequentially broken by their own doing, not by any miss-step of their Creator. Because of His holiness, God has every right and all the ability to destroy the broken and rebellious work of His hands. Yet He chooses not to. He chooses instead to save man.

  Man is far more evil than Frankenstein’s monster. Humanity does not seek the help of their Creator as Frankenstein’s monster sought his. Man rejects the benevolent Creator by who they exist and pursue their own lusts. They disobey the commands of God who made them. Still, God calls mankind to come to Him. He went so far as to give up the life of His Son to pay the due punishment for the sin man has committed.

  The monsters in men’s lives are the ones we have made. And unlike Frankenstein’s monster, we the created have a Maker who desires to lift us out of our wretchedness and destroy the monster’s we have made for ourselves.