I remember the old movie “Island of Misfit Toys”. As a kid, I watched and cried for the poor toys who were held prisoner there. They were imperfect and broken – deemed useless by those who tossed them aside. I remember the villain who mocked them and laughed at their cries to be loved by a child at Christmas! Yes, I know, it’s a kids’ show!
That old kids’ show parallels the spiritual warfare we all face. In this world of Misfits Satan is the villain who takes us captive on his Island of lies. Maybe someone, somewhere threw us away because we are not perfect. Personally, I have many flaws and I have been broken! So many of us have suffered rejection and broken hearts, leaving us with thoughts of hopelessness! We smile through fear of being hurt or rejected. So many wear self confidence as a disguise. They look fine on the outside but inwardly the mask can’t cover the heart.
Jesus knows that feeling. Isa 53:3 tells us “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” He was deemed unfit or disabled by those who couldn’t receive His message of love.
In this old story, the poor toys were so broken, they thought no one would play with them again. Then on Christmas Eve, they heard those bells ringing and Reindeer flying! Suddenly, hope filled up their hearts! Those Misfit toys finally had a purpose. Someone was waiting who would love them. True acceptance is powerful. The need for acceptance is world wide. Can you see yourself on the Island of Misfits? Do you need to be loved more than anything?
Yes, I guess I’ve carried this analogy too far, but remember Jesus said, Luk 14:12 “Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. Luk 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind.” At that time, being disabled meant you were shunned. Jesus purposely mentions the exact disabilities that would guarantee a trip to the Island of Misfit Toys!
He opens the door wide for the misfits. Those the world call disabled, maim, or misfit the Lord calls to sit at the table with the King! So if you feel like one of those Misfit toys remember one day we will hear a Trumpet Sounding and those the world calls strange, misfit, or useless will be flying up to meet Jesus in the air! While we are here, let the world say what they will! It means nothing that they call us names and shun us as fools. Let us share the Love of God liberally. Spread the good news everywhere. Maybe win a few of them while we wait. The one who matters sees us as whole, healed, able, and fit! We are not Misfit Toys to be tossed around. We are children of God and we should love like it.
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