Is That REALLY How the Story Goes?

Recently, I finished The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. It was a story I looked forward to reading for a number of reasons. It is considered a classic work which had withstood the test of time. It piqued my interest in writing which has a slight tendency to border in the realm of the macabre. As I read through the book, I began to notice something interesting. Growing up, there were many things which I was told concerning the story. Reading the story, I began to realize the story did not match up with anything I was told as a child. For instance, I grew up being told Mr. Hyde was a giant, hulking, deformed individual who was more or less a savage beast. Stevenson’s explanation of the character’s looks was a bit different. At the beginning of the story, Hyde was described as “a little man who was stumping along” and was described as a “dwarf” in other parts of the story. It is also recognized that Jekyll’s intent behind creating the famous serum was to destroy the evil which reigned within the man of body. Reading through the story, I realized Jekyll’s true intent. He never wanted to destroy evil but wanted to be able to act upon his lusts without destroying his influence within the public. I never knew the real story until I took the time to read it.

God’s Word tells us of an individual who realized the whole story when the book of the Lord is read to him. 2 Kings 22-23 speak of the reign of Josiah. In verse 8 Hilkiah, the high priest, finds the book of the law, gives it to Shaphan, the scribe, who reads it to Josiah. “And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying, Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us” (2 Kings 22:11-13). Here was a man who thought he was doing right from the beginning but realized that his ancestors had not kept the commands of God. He besought the mercy of God, destroyed the idols, and those things which were used in part of idolatry, and killed the false prophets. He then had the law read to the children of Israel and commanded them to keep the law of God. Why? He was taught one thing about what God had commanded them but came to realize that in the end, he was wrong all along. By being willing to make such a change Josiah is commemorated for all time within the Bible (2 Kings 23:25). What about us? Many of us have been taught many things concerning the Law of God but have we taken the time to find out whether those things were true? Is that REALLY what the Bible states?

Stevenson, Robert Louis (2013). The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Kindle Locations 4).  . Kindle Edition.