It is equally absurd and amazing the things that can come to one’s mind when walking in solitude. What follows are some of those thoughts. I have no idea how I started thinking about this, and the analogy is admittedly far from perfect, but while walking I realized the myriad similarities that exist between the experiences of my life and the 1994 movie, “The Lion King.” I take no credit, absolutely none, for the happy ending, “for it is God who is at work in [me], both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

Just call me Simba

The analogy begins with when I was saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I received the gift of God (Eph 2:8-10) and became Simba, an heir to my Father’s kingdom (Rom 8:16-17; Gal 3:29; Eph 3:6; Tit 3:7). I was a legitimate heir, yes, but I was also young and immature, and in constant need of

reminders and discipline from my Father about the proper way to act as His child. Sometimes I did not want the reminders or the discipline, but it would turn out to be good for me in the long run (Heb 5:13; 12:5-11).

But still, I was young and immature, a legitimate heir, a son of the King, but my world was not wrapped up in the right things. I frolicked around, thinking everything would work out according to the plan I had in my mind. Like Simba, I thought my life was just about perfect. Good friends, future planned, life wrapped up in a church, and the more walls I added onto that the more I felt like I knew exactly how to handle everything. I believed my foundation to be strong. After all, I was a son of the King. Continue reading →