Recently my family and I watched "The Lego Movie," a zany adventure about a normal construction worker named Emmet who fulfills a prophecy made up to help him believe he was "the special." Dumbo had his "magic feather," and Emmet had the secret weapon glued to his back. It is a witty, entertaining film which chronicles the path of an ordinary toy without original thoughts to be a "master builder" through self-belief. I enjoy the movie. But I also am aware that under the plastic interlocking bricks there are echoes of the old humanistic mantra: if you will believe, anyone can become the hero. You can do anything you want, if you will only believe.
Belief is a funny thing, because it is only as effective as what you place your faith in. As a young teen my uncle truly believed he could fly like Superman, and was so convinced of his powers he leaped off a roof! Needless to say, his descent was immediate and continuous until he hit the ground! Emmet had always followed the Lego instructions, and was frankly lost without them. He had little to no creativity, ability, or skill. He was simply urged to "Believe." Like Neo in the Matrix, when Emmet began to believe in himself he began to understand how to build. His mind which was once vacuous was suddenly filled with information about Lego bricks. Everywhere he looked building ideas jumped out at him. Through his and all others who were brave enough to believe, their Lego world was saved. Anyone can be special, if they believe they are.
The online Merriam-Webster definition of "special" is, "distinguished by some unusual quality; especially : being in some way superior; 2) held in particular esteem; 3) readily distinguishable from others of the same category; 4)being other than the usual; 5) designed for a particular purpose or occasion." From a Biblical perspective, God is special in many ways. He is in all ways superior to men and is readily distinguished from what He has created. Since God has created man in His own image, every person is special too - in different ways. It is God who has made man special, unique and distinct from plants and animals. God breathed within man a living soul, gave Him dominion over all creation, and designed man for the purpose of enjoying fellowship with God. But instead of glorifying God for who He is and all He has made, the human tendency is to look to self - to abilities, talents, experiences, wealth, possessions, accomplishments, likes, and dislikes - to define ourselves.
Jesus said, "Without me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5) Just like a branch apart the the vine cannot grow, flower, or produce fruit, we can accomplish nothing of eternal value without the power of God. If I can do nothing without Christ, self-belief accomplishes nothing. It is a false hope, a false belief which cannot help or save. When desperate people sought Jesus to heal their sick children, Jesus instructed them to believe. One boy suffered demonic attacks, and the girl was near death. Who or what were the people supposed to believe in? Themselves? Why then did they come to Jesus for help? Self-belief didn't hack it in the difficult time or impossible situations, and it is just as useless today. Jesus told people to believe in Him. He said in John 14:1, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me." When we place our belief and trust in God, a whole new world opens to us. We begin to understand how special we are - not because of us, but because of the God who created us as His image bearers.
Emmet's mind went from being "prodigiously empty" to being filled with knowledge he suddenly had skill to use. A similar thing happens when we choose to believe in Jesus Christ. Our spiritual senses were like Emmet's, a great big void where nothing was happening. Reading the Bible without belief or intent to obey is an empty exercise. But when we respond to the Gospel in faith, reading the Bible becomes an incredible journey and experience in understanding more fully the God who has demonstrated His love for us. God sends the Holy Spirit to indwell those who trust in Him and provide understanding of the Bible's meaning. Words leap off the page and our hearts are filled with great joy through God speaking to us. Self-belief is an empty promise which sends a soul spiraling to hell, but belief in God begins a new life, a fresh perspective, and a corrected view concerning God and our purpose in this world. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11-13, "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Belief is a funny thing, because it is only as effective as what you place your faith in. As a young teen my uncle truly believed he could fly like Superman, and was so convinced of his powers he leaped off a roof! Needless to say, his descent was immediate and continuous until he hit the ground! Emmet had always followed the Lego instructions, and was frankly lost without them. He had little to no creativity, ability, or skill. He was simply urged to "Believe." Like Neo in the Matrix, when Emmet began to believe in himself he began to understand how to build. His mind which was once vacuous was suddenly filled with information about Lego bricks. Everywhere he looked building ideas jumped out at him. Through his and all others who were brave enough to believe, their Lego world was saved. Anyone can be special, if they believe they are.
The online Merriam-Webster definition of "special" is, "distinguished by some unusual quality; especially : being in some way superior; 2) held in particular esteem; 3) readily distinguishable from others of the same category; 4)being other than the usual; 5) designed for a particular purpose or occasion." From a Biblical perspective, God is special in many ways. He is in all ways superior to men and is readily distinguished from what He has created. Since God has created man in His own image, every person is special too - in different ways. It is God who has made man special, unique and distinct from plants and animals. God breathed within man a living soul, gave Him dominion over all creation, and designed man for the purpose of enjoying fellowship with God. But instead of glorifying God for who He is and all He has made, the human tendency is to look to self - to abilities, talents, experiences, wealth, possessions, accomplishments, likes, and dislikes - to define ourselves.
Jesus said, "Without me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5) Just like a branch apart the the vine cannot grow, flower, or produce fruit, we can accomplish nothing of eternal value without the power of God. If I can do nothing without Christ, self-belief accomplishes nothing. It is a false hope, a false belief which cannot help or save. When desperate people sought Jesus to heal their sick children, Jesus instructed them to believe. One boy suffered demonic attacks, and the girl was near death. Who or what were the people supposed to believe in? Themselves? Why then did they come to Jesus for help? Self-belief didn't hack it in the difficult time or impossible situations, and it is just as useless today. Jesus told people to believe in Him. He said in John 14:1, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me." When we place our belief and trust in God, a whole new world opens to us. We begin to understand how special we are - not because of us, but because of the God who created us as His image bearers.
Emmet's mind went from being "prodigiously empty" to being filled with knowledge he suddenly had skill to use. A similar thing happens when we choose to believe in Jesus Christ. Our spiritual senses were like Emmet's, a great big void where nothing was happening. Reading the Bible without belief or intent to obey is an empty exercise. But when we respond to the Gospel in faith, reading the Bible becomes an incredible journey and experience in understanding more fully the God who has demonstrated His love for us. God sends the Holy Spirit to indwell those who trust in Him and provide understanding of the Bible's meaning. Words leap off the page and our hearts are filled with great joy through God speaking to us. Self-belief is an empty promise which sends a soul spiraling to hell, but belief in God begins a new life, a fresh perspective, and a corrected view concerning God and our purpose in this world. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11-13, "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
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