Buzz was totally devastated and dejected at this revelation. Woody felt bad about what he had said and, out of compassion, assured Buzz, “But you are special. You belong to the boy. He takes special delight in you. Look on the bottom of your foot. His name is written there. You belong to him and he loves you.” (My paraphrase.) Buzz’s spirit was lifted. He was Special. He belonged to the boy!

Who do you belong to? Some would say, “I belong to no one! I’m my own master. I decide my own destiny.” Some people belong to themselves. They are totally self-absorbed. Some belong to the devil. They gave him access to their life and they are dominated and controlled by the arch fiend.

We are not a toy. We were created in God’s image. (Genesis 1:26-27) God knew you and took delight in you even from your mother’s womb. (Psalm 139) You belong to Him. God has a wonderful plan and purpose for you. (Jeremiah 29:11-12) His children are the apple of His eye. (Deuteronomy 32:10, Psalm 17:8, Zechariah 2:8)

Buzz Lightyear had the name of the boy he belonged to written on the bottom of his foot. But God gives His creation freewill. We are not just toys or robots. To those who surrender their heart to the Creator, Savior, and Lord; He says, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me” (Isaiah 49:15-16).

Not only will God not forget Israel and Jerusalem, He will not forget His sons and daughters. You belong to him. You were inscribed on the palms of His hands. When? The day that Jesus’ hands and feet were nailed to the old rugged cross. He died for the sins of the world, as our sacrifice to make atonement. The Jewish feast and fast on Yom Kippur (October 13th) points to the One who became our scapegoat and carried our sins away. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

If Buzz Lightyear was a real astronaut, it would take him light years to fly past the stars in outer space. When one of God’s children dies, they are with Him in an instant, because they belong to Him. Jesus told the penitent thief hanging on the cross next to him, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Paul said, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” When Jesus returns to catch his waiting “bride”, the church, away to be with him, in an instant we shall be with Him. (I Thessalonians 4:15-17) We shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye. (I Corinthians 15:51-52) It won’t be just a “Toy Story”; it’s real because we belong to Him.

All the toys wanted to get back home where they belonged. They helped each other. God has ordained that the family of God encourage and help one another be who God created us to be and help others go home where they belong. That’s the church that God ordained. Each member who makes up the body of Christ is significant. Even though we are each different and unique, we belong to Him. He delights in each of us.

Like Buzz Lightyear, I long to blast off into the unknown universe. This earth is not our home. (Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16) We have a bright and glorious future in that heavenly country, in that celestial city where the Lamb is the Light. (Revelation 21-22)
Do you live with significance and purpose? Who do you belong to? You can belong to the Creator and Lord of heaven and earth – Jesus.

“For as many as received Him gave He power to become son’s of God, even to as many as believed in His name” (John 1:12).