Two days ago, while working on my sermon for Sunday, I was listening to the soundtrack of the most recent Lion King movie. Now this soundtrack is especially meaningful to me because the original Lion King played a large role in my childhood. I don’t think it is possible to know how many times I watched it as a child and later as an adult. This is a movie that I know pretty much backwards and still unashamedly sing along to it (remembering most of the lyrics to the songs!)
What blows my mind regarding the older, animated movies like The Lion King is the meaningful messages you discover as an adult that may have gone over your head when you were younger. While listening to one of the songs, I decided that I wanted to quickly watch the scene, in which this song played, from the original movie. I opened up YouTube and began the search to find what I was looking for and success! It was found! After watching it, I watched it again amazed at the biblical truth contained in the exchange between Simba and his dad Mufasa who had passed away:
Mufasa: Simba . . .
Simba: Father?
Mufasa: Simba, you have forgotten me.
Simba: No. How could I?
Mufasa: You have forgotten who you are, and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself, Simba.
You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of Life.
Simba: How can I go back? I’m not who I used to be.
Mufasa: Remember who you are. You are my son, and the one true king.
Mufasa: Remember who you are.
Now if you have never seen The Lion King before (the animated one, not the live-action one!) please stop what you’re doing and go watch it if you can (You won’t be disappointed – I promise!). At this point in the movie Simba was the rightful king of his father’s kingdom but was not living in a way that honoured that fact – he had become a shadow of his former self. I love Mufasa’s words, “You have forgotten who you are, and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than what you have become”
As disciples of Jesus we are literally children of God. Take a look at Galatians 4:3-7:
3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements of the world. 4 When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.
When we forget the fact that we are a child of God I think that we can then in turn forget about God himself. And when we forget our true identity and who that identity is found in, this can then impact how we are live in the present. So the main message I want you to take away today is to remember who you are, to remember the fact that you are a child of God, and will one day share in Jesus’ incredible inheritance as He is the rightful King of the universe; then, in light of this truth, live in a way that honors this fact. If you currently find yourself in a place that is far from God and maybe tied up in a life of sin or one that doesn’t look much like a disciple of Jesus, know that you are never too far gone and that you are more than what you have become. You are a child of God so be encouraged! And then live like one!
Much love,
Luke
Fantastic message… I had a real child of God epiphany yesterday watching a movie on Netflix.. *Overcomer* ..
It’s a must watch
Be blessed as I have been
Beautiful post Luke! Thank you. Xx
Thank you Luke – what a lovely insight into those lyrics – like you, I have lost count of how many times I have watched that movie with my Grandchildren. But have never thought of the deeper meaning to those words. Thanks again. Keep well.