Lessons From A Hallmark Movie | Day 3 | Part of the Picture
A common theme I’ve noticed in Hallmark movies is misunderstandings in relationships. In almost every movie, there is a scene where the guy walks up at just the right time to see the girl hug the ex-boyfriend good-bye. She doesn’t see him watching on. It appears to him that they are back together, so he stops pursuing the girl. The girl cannot understand why he is now ignoring her. The end of the movie almost always ends with both of them realizing the misunderstanding. The relationship is restored, and it is better than ever. The guy only knew part of the story. He only knew what his eyes could see, he wasn’t close enough to hear the closure happening between the two. He only understood in part.
“Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices… You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy,” Psalm 16:9 & 11
David penned this Psalm many, many years before Jesus walked the earth. During this time, the presence of God would be confined to the Ark of the Covenant. David, as God’s annointed, would have experienced the presence of God as a visitation. He would have had a limited understanding of it, not as an indwelling like we do today. Much like the Hallmark scenes, David could only partially understand God’s presence.
Peter quotes this portion of Psalm 16 in his first sermon recorded in Acts 2: 25-28. He speaks these words as a response to the first outpouring of God’s Spirit upon the early church (Acts 2: 1-13). This is the first time believers would have truly understood the indwelling of God’s presence through the Holy Spirit. Jesus had told his followers:
“I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away the Helper (Holy Spirit) will not come to you.” John 16:7
Jesus saw the bigger picture. He knew that His Spirit that he would send to dwell in his followers would be better even than him dwelling next to his followers. This is hard for us to wrap our minds around. I want nothing more than to be able to have a face-to-face conversation with Jesus, to get to follow Him and learn from Him. But he tells the early church: it’s going to be to your advantage if I leave, because I am sending something even better.
When Jesus fulfilled his purpose through his death on the cross and the resurrection from the grave, the veil that restrained God’s presence to the Holy of Holies was torn in two from top to bottom, symbolizing that we ALL now have access to the full presence of God. If David, who only partially understood God’s presence, claimed to find the FULLNESS of joy in it, how much more is that true for us as New Testament believers. David had a limited understanding, and it was the best thing he could describe.
Through Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection, we have full understanding and full access!
We aren't limited to seeing part of the story, we have the full view. May we never take for granted the gift of the Spirit that Jesus died to give us. Today, may we invite the Spirit of God to join us in our day. May we acknowledge His presence with us in all things. Let us look to Emmanuel, God with us, the very reason we celebrate this season, and in His Presence, may we find the fullness of Joy.
