Lessons from "Elf"

Although it was made less than ten years ago, the movie "Elf" is already a classic Christmas movie that lots of people have to watch every year for their Christmas to feel complete.  It's the story of a guy named Buddy who accidentally found his way into Santa's sack as a baby and traveled all the way back to the North Pole where he was raised by elves.  When he grows up, he realizes that he is four times as big as everyone else around him and that he is not an elf.  So he makes his way to New York City to find his real family.  His cheerful, child-like personality in a world of grouchy Christmas-stressed adults makes for some great (and quotable) comedy. ("Buddy the elf, what's your favorite color?")

Toward the end of the movie, Santa makes his way to New York City on Christmas Eve only to have his sleigh come to a skidding stop in Central Park because there just isn't enough Christmas cheer to keep the sleigh flying.  In other words, not enough people still believe in Santa to keep him going.  Buddy and his friends take it upon themselves to spread some Christmas cheer and convince everyone in Central Park that Santa is real.  Once the people start hearing their Christmas wishes accurately read aloud from Santa's list, they believe.  Santa's sleigh soars into the sky and all is well again.

While watching the movie a few days ago, something hit me.  Santa has always been made out to be a lot like God, right? ("He sees you when you're sleeping/he knows when you're awake.")  And in this movie, he can only succeed if enough people believe in him.  How contrary is THAT to the nature of the true God!  God doesn't need people to believe in Him in order for Him to be real.  God's power doesn't stop when people's belief in Him stops.  It keeps going, no matter what.  He existed before the creation of the world, after all (1 Peter 1:20).

"Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases."

(Psalm 115:3)

"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?"

(Jeremiah 32:27)

Said to the virgin Mary: "For nothing will be impossible with God."

(Luke 1:37) 

Our God is sovereign over all, which can be pretty intimidating and daunting.  But the amazing thing about our God is that while He is far greater and more powerful than anything we can even imagine, the story doesn't end there. ...So I can't stop this blog post quite yet!  =)

Our God was loving enough to stoop down low and come to earth in the form of a man...to be with us.   To be...with US!  And, to, as the angel told Joseph in a dream before Christ's birth, Jesus came "save his people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21)  How beautiful is that?  Our powerful God was also a humble servant, born in a manger, the only one capable of being a perfect sacrifice for sin.  So he came.  To take our punishment for sin.  This beautiful paradox is described in Philippians 2:6-8:

"[Jesus] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant,

being born in the likeness of men.

And being found in human form, 

he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,

even death on a cross." 

I'm so glad that's my God.  Creator.  Life sustainer.  Redeemer.  

It's fun to watch movies about Santas and elves, but the universe belongs to God.

"As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field;

for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

and its place knows it no more.

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,

and his righteousness to children's children."

  (Psalm 103:15-17)