“Norse Code” is a new book by Greg van Eekhout that intertwines Norse mythology, zombies, dead Iowans, a good dog, and just about anything else you can think of.   It’s a great read.  I recommend it to anyone who’s interested in fantasy/sci-fi stuff.

Who would’ve thought that Ragnarok might happen on the streets of California?

As a Christian, certain elements of this story even allowed me to explore some ideas a little closer to my theological homestead.

It was a great examination on prophecy (the Norse myths of Ragnarok and how the world will end), our interpretation of that prophecy, and how things actually turn out.

All of us Christians have read the book of Revelation.  And we’ve listened to the John Hagee types tell us how it’s all going to go down in the end.  So we think we’ve got it figured out.  But I think there’s a lot of breathing room in prophecy.  I think things will turn out much differently than even John Hagee and Pat Robertson expect.  This even seems in accordance with what we think we know about the nature of God, who seems to love surprises.

And this also ties in with the “free will” vs. “predestination” debate.

I’m coming to realize that the answer to many paradoxical questions is “yes.”  Does humankind have free will?  Yes.  Is there prophecy, destiny, foretold events? Yes.

And that’s another thing I appreciate about the Norse spirit, which was wonderfully honored in this story: it seems to say, “Stand on your feet and fight, even if your destiny looks grim.”

How that applies to the Faith. . .  well: we Christians hope against hope. We see death, war, famine, poverty, decay, corruption, and a downward spiral into even more decadence than the generations before us would have thought possible.  We know that, whatever is pressing upon us, nothing will separate us from God’s love. We stand against hell and the devil himself and say, “Bring what you will, I stand with Christ.”

But it isn’t our pride, or our strength, that causes or allows us to stand.  We stand cloaked in the righteousness and grace of Jesus.  Without His mediation, we would be consumed in the totality of God’s very being.

I am appreciating how God allows us to read a good book (such as Norse Code), and come away with a great impression of heavy things, like free will and predestination (the answer is yes, on both counts), prophecy (although there is prophecy, and revelation concerning how events may unfold, there is a lot of breathing room as to how and what will happen), and mystery (God is, completely and utterly, beyond comprehension.  We are utterly dependent upon his willful revelation — even what is revealed of him in creation is his chosen revelation).  In this way we truly do glorify God in all that we do.