This Week – October 26, 2003
October’s End
I know
as I write this that I am going to get in trouble. You would think that
one as old as I would know better, but, This Week |
ly devotional deal is to
get us thinking, and this will probably do it.
You know that the second largest
holiday sale, ranking just behind Christmas, is Halloween. I’ve watched
the pumpkin patches spring up over the last few weeks, and I have seen
yards decorated with all kinds of scary stuff over the last month. People
get an early start and some really get into it.
There’s always been an outcry from the
theological right about the appropriateness of the season for those who
are committed to the Truth of God’s Word. There is a lot said in Scripture
that might make one take a second look at all that Halloween embraces. We
all know there is a problem with witches, goblins and the focus on
cemeteries, ghosts, fear and death. I continue to be amazed at the latter
of these in light of how we seem unwilling, for the most part, to discuss
death the rest of the year, yet here we do it as a matter of course.
One thing I do know is that Christians
should have no fear of death simply because we shall not taste of it. Our
eternal life began at the cross and because He lives, we too shall live.
Paul said, “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” (2
Corinthians 5:6-8)
I have no desire to create a fear of
chain saws in my grandkids because I use one all the time and I need them
to learn how to use it so I can retire from that activity. I’m already
afraid of spiders and I hate getting into a spider’s web. Don’t make me do
that, even if it is fake.
So, do I dislike the “trick or treat”
mentality and “costumes?” Yea, pretty much. Please don’t misunderstand.
I’m not choosing for you. I know everyone has to come to their own
conclusion, but I’m saving the candy for me, and the cartoon character
costumes cost too much for their single use (everybody is too big for it
next year, or it’s “out of date,” or “it’s not who I want to be,” etc.).
I really enjoyed the Fall Festival and
the camp-out we had this month. And if you don’t mind, that’s enough for
me. I’ll just wait now for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I can get into
those Holidays. They are all about His marvelous gifts to His children.
© Weaver 2003