And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? – Acts 9:4
If tasked to describe the eight-part Netflix series Nemesis, I would say it’s like a book, a page turner. It masterfully tells the story of a detective obsessed with catching a team of criminals, primarily their leader. With earmarks of the movie Heat, the detective’s target merits the distinction given to mob boss John Gotti as the Teflon Don, someone who’s unstoppable, largely due to his disguised reputation as a successful businessman and community sponsorships. The final episode ends in a cliffhanger that prompts a question: Will the villain ever be caught?
Nemesis perfectly illustrates an ongoing reality in this fallen world, where workers of darkness seem to prevail and avoid justice. It has often caused me to ponder God’s righteousness, and I’m reminded of Romans 14:11, which says: “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” It was written by apostle Paul, whose name before conversion had been Saul, an enemy of those who followed Jesus Christ. Yet on his way to Damascus, he encountered God: “he fell to the earth” and was transformed into a man with a mission to minister to others about a God who changed his life.
Remembering that God’s righteousness will prevail and that evil doers aren’t ignored, no matter the type or longevity of their behavior, offers comfort and assurance. Because no one is beyond God’s power to capture and punish and even transform.