The line I love most in this clip is when Rafiki forces Simba to check out his reflection in the pond. Rafiki reminds Simba that his father lives in him, just as our father lives in us. Paul told the Galatians that he was "crucified with Christ and [he] no longer live[d] but Christ live[d] in [him]" (2:20). So picture Paul, for a moment, as a wise old baboon saying, "You see, he lives in you." We are children of the High King that died, rose again, and ascended into heaven. Sometimes, I'll admit, it feels like he isn't here. Heaven feels far away and we feel like Simba who lost his Father. But God gave us the Holy Spirit to live and dwell and move in us. In John 14, Jesus, who knew he would be going away for a while, comforted his disciples by saying:
"I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you" (vv 16-18).It is in this way that Christ dwells, moves and works in us.
Perhaps, though, you look at your reflection and, like Simba, only see yourself and not the Father. And I hate to tell you it is not an overnight fix. By trial and perseverance, by spending time reading the Bible and in prayer, by speaking with others who have known Christ longer, and by different struggles throughout life, God will slowly chip away at your human nature. He will slowly chip away at your belief that you can make it through life alone. He will chisel away selfishness and conceit; he will call you to overcome the idols of your heart. He will not leave you as he found you. And please, be "confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6). You will not be complete until you enter heaven's gates. But you must become softened clay that allows God to shape and mold you. Please know, the more of you he chips away, the more of him the world will see. And that is the goal of Christianity: to become "little Christs"-- it's the very definition of the word!
As a side note, this doesn't take away your personality or individuality. CS Lewis makes a pretty epic point in Mere Christianity when he says:
"There are no real personalities anywhere else. Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self. Sameness is to be found most among the most "natural" men, not among those who surrender to Christ. How monotonously alike all the great tyrants and conquerors have been: how gloriously different are the saints."So give your life to Christ, and when you do, remember that he lives in you. Allow him to move and work and turn your reflection into something that looks more like him and less like you. And note what Mufasa says to Simba in the end: "Remember who you are." You, too, are a child of a King. You, too, are made for bringing a piece of the good kingdom to earth. And this can only be done if we remember who we are. When we forget God, we forget our purpose and forget who we are. So ask God to chisel and shape you so that you reflect him. Ask him to remind you of the special purpose for which he created for you. And ask him to work in you until that purpose is achieved. Finally, remember who you are all because he lives in you, and thank him for such a beautiful gift.
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