It was Him all along !

I don’t know about you, but I used to love watching high school movies. I hate to admit it, but I watched them well into my adult life, but, not so much now.

If this is your genre, then you are very familiar with Ms. Teen Girl who is completely mesmerized by Mr. Popular- the tall handsome star athlete. In her eyes he is perfect, her prince charming who makes her life whole and complete. However, there is a slight problem, he doesn’t see her in the same light. Mr. Popular often toys with her emotions, one minute he is in and the next he is out. He certainly doesn’t give her the affirmation she deserves nor honours her value. But Ms. Teen Girl is a hopeless romantic and is therefore determined to keep chasing her “prince charming".

Then there is Mr. Nice Guy whom she has known since grade school. He has always been a great friend who truly loves her and desires a more meaningful place in her life. Ms. Teen is so captivated by Mr. Popular that she doesn’t even notice Mr. Nice Guy. On the face of it, Mr. Nice Guy seems very shy, quiet, and reserved. He is certainly not popular, not as tall, and just cute at best. Underneath it all, he is whole, loyal, generous, and has a great heart. Mr. Nice Guy would definitely treat her with the worth she deserves. He steps from time to time in to help her get back on her feet whenever Mr. Popular breaks her heart. Mr. Nice Guy has become her soft place to land but every time she gets back on her feet, she is chasing Mr. Popular again leaving Mr. Nice Guy in the dust.

Through it all, Mr. Nice Guy stands in the wings longing hoping that one day she would realize that he is the better option. He never leaves her side; he doesn’t impose but uses opportunities to step in to offer love and support.

We watch these movies and we think that this girl is dumb, we cannot comprehend how she is not able to discern that Mr. Nice Guy is the better option. We are baffled at the delusion that has blinded her from seeing what’s best for her own life. We yell at Mr. Nice Guy, “boy forget that girl, she’s not worth it, let her chase Mr. Popular and see what she gets.”

Pause the story - isn’t this just like our relationship with Jesus? We chase after things that we perceive will make us happy, whole, and complete. While Jesus stands in the wings longing for us, hoping that one day we would be enlightened to the fact that he is the only one that will treat us with the value we deserve. Through it all, He never abandons us but stays close and uses opportunities in our lives to step in and restore, in hopes that one day we would truly get it; and so He waits.

Back to the story- the climax, the pivot, the turning point. Ms. Teen Girl finally gets her redemption after one final letdown by Mr. Popular. In steps Mr. Nice Guy to catch her again, but this time is different, they pierce into each other’s eyes and for the first time, she really sees the pure unconditional love he had all along. He whispers, “I will never leave you.” Thankfully she gets it, she finally gets it, and she replies, “It was you, it was you all along, how could I not see it was you all along” Mr. Nice Guy is overjoyed, and they enter a deep meaningful relationship.

What will be the climax of your story? Her story can be our story too, if and only if, one day we do truly realize it was Him all along. Will you open the eyes of your heart to see that it was Him all along, Jesus your Saviour who has been sidelined in your life, the one you only see when you are hurting? Will you come to the truth that it was Him all along? Nothing in this world that we chase will ever give us the sustaining fulfillment and worth that we deserve, only our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It was him all along folks! I hope you get it!