Hopefully, you read my hubby's post about that devil, Monokuma, and his ultimate despair. Now, I will introduce you to the antagonist to this antagonist. Makoto Naegi.
Makoto is among the high school students taken hostage by Monokuma. He is the only normal among a sea of ultimate gifted people. However, even the ultimates fall prey to the plush demon's schemes. It would take an inhuman amount of hope to think they could take down such a fearsome menace. Hope Makoto has in spades.
When he escapes the killing game, the boy forms an organization to combat despair. In order to do this, he is ordered to eradicate terrorists who massacred hundreds of people in the name of despair. And who are students just like him.
Instead of execution, Makoto saves the survivors to rehabilitate them, including the leader who began the despair war. He risks his job, his title, his reputation, and his life to return to the killing game and bring these lost kids back to the side of hope. There is no guarantee his plan will work, but he is willing to risk everything to try.
Sound familiar?
Makoto is among the high school students taken hostage by Monokuma. He is the only normal among a sea of ultimate gifted people. However, even the ultimates fall prey to the plush demon's schemes. It would take an inhuman amount of hope to think they could take down such a fearsome menace. Hope Makoto has in spades.
When he escapes the killing game, the boy forms an organization to combat despair. In order to do this, he is ordered to eradicate terrorists who massacred hundreds of people in the name of despair. And who are students just like him.
Instead of execution, Makoto saves the survivors to rehabilitate them, including the leader who began the despair war. He risks his job, his title, his reputation, and his life to return to the killing game and bring these lost kids back to the side of hope. There is no guarantee his plan will work, but he is willing to risk everything to try.
Sound familiar?
"While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8 shows us an even greater hope with an even greater sacrifice. Unlike Makoto, Jesus knew exactly what he was getting into when he came to Earth. He knew beyond a doubt He was going to die, yet He came anyway. And for whom? Liars, murderers, cheats, thieves, warmongers, and the list goes on. He came for the people who loved Him and the people who killed Him. Makoto assumed the kids could be saved, or he would not have spared them. The verse before Romans 5:8 even says, "Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good."
The thing is, Jesus knew some of us would reject Him. He understood that He was going to die for people who would spit in His face and curse His name. He came anyway. He came to bring to hope to anyone who is in despair. Even in a situation as hopeless as Danganronpa, He is there. "[T]his hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love" (Rom. 5:5).
Next time you find yourself facing your own Monokuma, don't look to yourself for help. Don't look for someone to save you because you were good. Look for someone who already saved you when you were not. Look for the everlasting, Ultimate Hope of Jesus Christ.
The thing is, Jesus knew some of us would reject Him. He understood that He was going to die for people who would spit in His face and curse His name. He came anyway. He came to bring to hope to anyone who is in despair. Even in a situation as hopeless as Danganronpa, He is there. "[T]his hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love" (Rom. 5:5).
Next time you find yourself facing your own Monokuma, don't look to yourself for help. Don't look for someone to save you because you were good. Look for someone who already saved you when you were not. Look for the everlasting, Ultimate Hope of Jesus Christ.