Movies capture our imagination. They make us laugh and cry. They make us happy and sad. They tell us a story that draws us in by connecting us to the characters and the situations that they are dealing with. This past Friday our school went and watched a new movie that is out in theatres based on the novel by R. J. Palacio, Wonder. I encourage those who go out this movie as it is a wonderful rollercoaster of emotions as a little boy who looks different faces the world around him.
R.J. Palacio explains that she wrote this book based on an encounter she had with a young girl at the ice cream shot. She had taken her two boys to get ice cream and while in line her son spotted a young girl who due to whatever reason, had very different facial features. Her little boy began to cry, so R.J. took her two sons out of the ice cream shot, in efforts to keep the little girl from seeing her sons reaction. This inspired her to write a novel which by the way, as good as the movie is, doesn’t compare to the book, about a young boy who is born to look different from the world, and the struggles that come with that but also the life lessons that you can learn about loving who you are and loving those around you.
As I said before, movies and stories catch our imagination, and the best movies make us wonder into a world that is different from our own and in the shoes of someone else for a moment. I don’t want to spoil anything about the movie, but what I do want to talk about is a theme that I believe can be found in this movie. A mindset and lesson that I believe is an important principle that R.J. may have borrowed from our Father and that is a beautiful truth found in a Psalm written by David. If you would read Psalm 139 1-16 with me.
O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall[a] on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;[b]
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
I have three points that I would like to discuss with you.
My first point is this, there are some amazing authors and directors in the world. However there is no greater Author than the Father. There is no greater book then the bible and there is no greater story than Jesus. But as we speak, your story is being written. I think it’s so important to understand that Our Father, the creator, the greatest author, is writing your story. Not only did he create you, but his perfect hand is at work in your life.
If Michael Jordan took the time to come and teach you how to play basketball. Wouldn’t you be in awe, that someone who is considered the greatest basketball player in the world would take the time to teach you, to show you how to play the game. Then how much more is it that our Father is the author of your story, and not only is he writing your story, he has already written a happy ending for those who choose his son.
Before we can dive into the amazing truths of Psalm 139, we first must understand and accept that our God is the author of our story.
The Second truth that I see in this scripture is apparent from the first verse, O Lord you have searched me known me.
When I was a teacher, I would teach my third graders point of view. First person , second person, and third person. In third person, you have a limited and omniscient point of view from the author. Limited is where the author only knows one person’s feelings and thoughts. While omniscient is where the author knows every person’s thoughts and feelings.
Our God is an omniscient Author, he knows your thoughts he knows your feelings, he knows all things. The amazing part is that it includes all things about you. Our father knows us better than anyone ever could, he knows our thoughts, our feelings, our hearts desires. He is our creator, our author, our Father. Sometimes, I feel like we have watered down scripture and its truth in a way that amazing truths that should fill us with strength, hope and love have no effect on hearts.
Think about what it means to you that our God not only created us but he knows everything about us. The Alpha, the Omega knows you by name, knows you better then anyone ever could. Those of you this morning who maybe had a week where you felt underappreciated, or unworthy because of something you did, or maybe you are in a place where you feel like no one cares about you or your feelings. Scripture tells us a different story, God loves you, God cares about you, not only is he writing your story but he knows you and loves you so much that he created you just as you are to be who he made you to be. Your self worth should never be degraded because the one who knows all things and can do all things set your price. Your worth, your significance to him, is far more than rubies.
Which leads me to my final point and truth that is found in Psalm 139
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made
I don’t care what you look like, what abilities you have or don’t have, because I know this truth. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by God. You are his, and you have purpose because he made you wonderfully in his image.
Just like the novel Wonder demonstrates, people, we get caught up on the outside appearances and sometimes forget some very important truths. But this one is crucial, you are made wonderfully by God the way you are. Don’t allow the world to tell you otherwise. Don’t allow society to tell you otherwise. Don’t allow yourself to tell you otherwise. God made you. As the church we should be telling people how wonderfully and beautifully made each child, each person is, How God created them, knows them and loves them just the way they are.
That is something to praise him for, let us sing his praises, let us be encouraged by our worth in our creator’s eyes. And lets treat and teach others about their worth in our Father’s eyes by sharing his love for them.