And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.
For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18
Many holidays we celebrate come
from different pagan origins throughout history. We have adapted them in different ways so we
can express them as Christians. Here is
a different way of looking at the jack-o-lantern and how we can relate the
carving of a jack-o-lantern to salvation.
This Halloween I thought it would
be refreshing to talk about how we, as
Christians, are like pumpkins. We are like pumpkins in many ways if you
really think about it. We are chosen
from the “pumpkin patch” by God and brought in from the field. God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So
be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Colossians 3:12 He brings us
in, cleans the dirt off and makes us white as snow. We have quite a few layers of dust and dirt
that we have picked up from the pumpkin patch.
But God promises that Old things are passed away and all things are become new! 2
Corinthians 5:17
Then, like a person would do if
they were getting ready to carve a pumpkin, we open our hearts to Him, and He
scoops all the yucky stuff we have on the inside out. This represents sin. It is hard to believe that He could love us
with all that goop inside us, but He does.
Jesus cleans us out and removes the “seeds” of doubt, hate, greed,
rejection, bitterness, and fear. He
replaces them with the seeds of faith, hope, and love. Then I will sprinkle clean water on
you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and
from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit
within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a
heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My
statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. Ezekiel 36:25-27 God empties out the bad and fills it with the
good.
The power and presence of God in
our lives begins to change our countenance like a jack-o-lantern gets a newly
carved face. A joyful heart makes a cheerful
face…Proverbs 15:13a. He begins
by opening our eyes like carving the eyes of a pumpkin, and soon the joy and
love of God shows on our face.
Shining Through
When Jesus Christ lives in us, He
shines through our life for all to see, just like the candle we put inside a
carved out jack-o-lantern. He shines
through our heart, our words, our deeds and gives us the Holy Spirit to guide
us. We carve up a pumpkin, and put a
light in it that shines through the areas we carve. The deeper we carve, the
more the light shines through.
Christians are like that pumpkin.
Christ comes into our lives and provides the inner “light”. The world with its trials and tribulations
“carves” our pumpkin, letting Christ shine through. The deeper the cuts the more He shines
through! Jesus said, 'I am the light
of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the
light of life.' Let the light of Jesus shine through
your cracks and crevices. Be a light to the rest of the world so that they can
all see the good works of your Heavenly Father shining through you.
Scripture to Claim:
Jesus said, “You are
the light of the world. A city on a hill can’t be hidden. Also, people do not
light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand. Then
it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine
in front of others. Then they will see the good things you do. And they will
praise your Father who is in heaven”. Matthew 5:14-16
