There’s a popular song by Katy Perry called Firework and I think I’ve always had a problem with it. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate it—it’s certainly inspirational. But I’ve always felt like the message falls so dramatically short of the truth.
Here are some of the lyrics from that song:
Baby, you’re a firework
Come on, let your colors burst…
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
‘Cause, baby, you’re a firework
Come on, show ’em what you’re worth…
The truth is you’re not a firework. You’re so much more than a firework. A firework is a transient, temporal thing; it only lasts for a few seconds before it’s immediately replaced by something else. Rarely (if ever) do we give fireworks a second thought in our daily lives. Fireworks are fun to watch, but they have no power to heal, save, or change the world for the better. Fireworks would be more appropriately applied to popularity trends in the secular world: that movie was popular now this movie is popular, that celebrity was in vogue now this celebrity is in vogue.
But you—you are so much more than a firework and you don’t have to “show ’em what you’re worth.” Each of us is a divine, immortal child of God. That truth, though at times spoken so casually, is deeply profound. The light, the potential, and immortality within us is far brighter than the moon or even the stars. As author Neal A. Maxwell once said: “You have never seen an immortal star; they finally expire. But seated by you tonight are immortal individuals…”
C. S. Lewis seemed to echo this idea in his book, The Weight of Glory:
“It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship…There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations – these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.”
Some people may scoff at the idea of our intrinsic, divine heritage, but what is their replacement? A burst of color? 15 minutes of fame? A mad scramble through life to prove our worth to others before we die? You don’t need to prove anything to anybody. All you need to see yourself as God sees you.
Howard Lyon, a talented artist and a good friend of mine, recently finished a beautiful painting called I Am A Child of God. The painting shows Christ standing in the middle of a crowd of children from different parts of the world. The painting is absolutely stunning and its message is beautiful. In reference to the painting, Howard said this:
“Among the greatest treasures of knowledge that we’ve been given is this: we are all the children of God. This truth carries with it great blessings. It should guide us in how we treat those around us, and how we view ourselves. Each of God’s children are of great worth, with immeasurable potential.”
You’re not a transient firework, you’re an immortal child of God.
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Thanks for this reminder! It’s easy to take such a beautiful gift (us) for granted!!