This is the story of a Super Hero. Some people know him as Judah. I know him as “Lion Man”. Judah is a living epistle of perseverance in tribulation which produces character, and character hope. Lion Man bolsters my hope because I can so clearly see the love of God that is poured out in Judah’s heart. Rom 5:3-5.
Biblically speaking, Judah was the youngest of Jacob’s sons through whom the lineage of Jesus, The Lion of Judah came.
I have known Judah the Lion Man for just over two years. In that time I have watched him persevere amidst Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic condition that causes muscle weakness and atrophy (when muscles get smaller). SMA can affect a child’s ability to crawl, walk, sit up, and control head movements. Severe SMA can damage the muscles used for breathing and swallowing.
When I say persevere, I do mean PERSEVERE. I don’t know if I could ever handle what Judah faced in his 5 years. Most superhero’s are known for thier ability to avoid pain and suffering and inflict it on their designated villians. Super Heros like Lion Man endure pain and suffering with patience and abundant joy to build faith and bring hope to a world obsessed with self image. I am convinced that God sent super heros like Lion Man to a world obsessed with physicality, in order to smash the idol of self that most people don’t even know they worship. If that seems hyperbolic consider that the net worth of the entire beauty industry was $579.22 billion in 2023. American consumers alone spent nearly $88 billion on beauty products that same year. Meanwhile American consumer spending on fitness supplements came in at $13.5 billion. Just to give you some perspective, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), estimated that an annual investment of around $267 billion is needed to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030. Ironically the 200,000,000 skin cells we smother with lotions and potions die every hour regardless of how much money we spend. Meanwhile the hair we strive to keep shiny and in style is dead before can touch it. Again, I’m not putting anyone down, just lending some perspective.
Jacob who God renamed Israel fathered the nation through whom salvation, reconciliation and restoration would come to a very broken world. It is no coincidence that Jacob’s blessing and true identity began with a physical disability given to him by God. Gen 32:22-32
Recently, I learned that Lion Man was feeling a bit dejected and was seeing himself as a broken toy, namely Woody from the movie series Toy Story. Having only seen the first movie where Buzz is broken, I had no idea that Woody, Buzz’s friendly, rational and pragmatic side kick had his arm torn off as well.
I wanted to cry. Not because Judah was feeling down – Lion Man always bounces back. But rather because he was losing sight of his blessing and being tempted to view himself through the lens of a completely fake and broken world.
Most adults who arrive at an understanding of their identity do so like Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 1. By the way, if you think you are above being ministerd to by a children’s story then you are the quintessential representation of Buzz Lightyear. But then I am writing to, and for Judah more than anyone else.
In Toy Story One Buzz Lightyear, is a toy astronaut with an identity complex. You see, Buzz thinks he is a real superhero and does not know he is a toy. As the story begins we see Buzz comparing himself to, and competing with, the other characters for Andy the toy owners love. Buzz denies his obvious weakness, then rationalizes and justifies his failures to the point of the absurd until one day he sees himself on a television commercial and is confronted with truth.
Never the less he seizes upon his powers of denial, pulls himself together and once again tries to fly only to fall with less style than ever and loses an arm.
In the next scene we see a broken and dejected Buzz drinking Darjeeling tea with a bunch of headless dolls in Andy’s sisters’ room.
His friends try to rescue his shattered self-worth but to no avail. Buzz must go through the fiery process of transformation and discovery of his true identity.
Fast forward to the conclusion, we see Buzz rallying a bunch of broken toys to overcome the wiles of the evil Sid and save the day. In the end He becomes a real super hero but within the context of brokenness and in partnership with those who had also been broken.
The paradoxical truth is that everyone’s true identity is found amidst thier brokenness. Everything else is a facade. That brokenness usually comes packaged as a loss. It might be found in a full revelation of Ephesians 2:1-10. Or in the context of an addiction, a disease, a prison sentence or any other tragedy that shatters our silly narcissistic, illusions about ourselves. No sermon, no apologetic argument, no amount of proof will change the mind let alone the heart of the unbroken. The good news is that the blessing is in the brokenness. That includes the blessing that God has for us as well as the blessing that we can be to others. True anointing does not come with gifting or celebrity. True anointing is conferred by God within brokenness.
I’m no prophet but I can clearly see the anointing on Judah the Lion Man. While so many others must make the journey through their brokenness. Judah was born into his. His legs may not be working at this time, but he is farther along in his walk than many who are ten times his age. He is living up to the heritage contained in his name. He is Judah blessed by God to walk in the spiritual footsteps of Jacob and Jesus the Lion of Judah. You are not a broken toy Judah. You are Lion Man. You will aleays be a superhero in our eyes. Now kick that lying devil out of your head and get back to being the super hero that brings laughter and joy to everyone you meet and above all Glory to your Maker. You have alot to teach us.