Pumpkin Carving

This evening, I had a great time carving a pumpkin with Alyssa and Daniel.  I realize many Christians don't celebrate Halloween, but I'm choosing to make it an opportunity to share my faith with my children and our neighbors.  Ephesians 5:15-16 tells us to "be careful, then, how you live- not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil."  I think this season can be a great opportunity to "overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21.)

I first heard this story when I was in elementary school.  I was attending an evening service at North Cheyenne Baptist Church and one of our deacons carved a jack-o-lantern and told this story.  The lights were dimmed, adding to this simple message of being a light in a dark world. 

Being a Christian is a lot like being a carved pumpkin.  God has picked us out and changed us, just like we would pick out a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch.  Sometime we may appear to be good or perfect on the outside, that's just not true.  We all make mistakes and we sin.  "Oh Lord, you have searched me and know me." Psalm 139:1

God scoops out our sin, the yucky pulp from inside us.  This represents all the wrong things we have done, the selfishness, our evil thoughts...  We are changed on the inside.  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away.  Behold, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

Then he carves a new face for us- smiling to reflect the peace, joy, and hope we have in him.  

He places his light inside us, so that others may seem him in us.  "You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden."  Matthew 5:14