Last month, our local public library was having a Family Movie Matinee; they were showing the live-action remake of the popular Disney movie, The Lion King.
I went to go see it, and although I liked it, I still prefer the original, animated version better. Timon and Pumbaa are funnier, it’s more colorful and livelier, plus the songs just seem catchier.
However, there was one part of the movie that I never thought about when watching the animated one. During the scene where Simba and Nala visit the elephant graveyard, the hyenas surround them, causing fear and panic. Even though I knew that Mufasa would eventually come and rescue them, I still felt scared. In the live-action version, the hyenas (as well as Scar) actually look creepier than they do in the cartoon version. When Mufasa does come, he lets out this earth-shattering roar, letting everyone know that the king has arrived, and he will take no nonsense from anyone. He fights off the hyenas with no fear. He knows he is much bigger and stronger than any of them are.
That scene got me thinking. Our mind is a powerful thing. We can feed it insecurities, or speak truth to ourselves. We can block out painful memories, or remember them and try not to let them define us.
Scar is like the devil. He comes around as a lion, ready to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). He wants to steal our identity in Christ, kill our self-worth, and destroy us in the process.
The hyenas could symbolize our insecurities. They sneak in, glaring at us, whispering things that spark fear in the deepest crevices of our hearts.
“You’re not good enough. No one really likes you.”
“You’re too fat. You’ll never be attractive.”
“You’re not making a difference in the world. You don’t matter to anyone.”
When we’re sure that we’re going to be eaten alive by our fears, Jesus (Mufasa) steps in. He is the Lion of Judah, and He’s roaring, letting everyone know that He is the true king. He will speak His truth into us (Revelation 5:5).
“The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.’” ~ Jeremiah 31:3
“The LORD, your God, is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” ~ Zephaniah 3:17
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ Romans 8:38-39
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well.
“My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.” ~ Psalm 139:13-18
“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” ~ Psalm 56:8
“God sets the lonely in families.” ~ Psalm 68:6a
And so, as we get together with friends and family this upcoming holiday season, may we fill our tummies with turkey and feed our minds with God’s Truth. And may we always remember Jesus – the Reason for the Season.
Wishing you holiday blessings!