I went to Disneyland with my daughter Jennie. We were looking forward to some father-daughter time. She says she’s “Daddy’s girl” and I love that!
The Scariest Place on Earth?
I had forgotten that Halloween is coming, but we sure knew it when we walked inside Disneyland. “The Happiest Place on Earth” here in Orange County, CA wants to be “The Scariest Place on Earth.” For the whole month of October they’ve filled with the park with creepy stuff. It’s not just in their haunted house — the scary stuff throughout the park. Even Space Mountain and the fireworks show pay homage to Halloween. And there are people everywhere dressed up as witches, devils, Dracula’s, and hatchet men.
It seems Disneyland is trying to compete with Knotts Berry Farm, which is transformed into the wildly popular “Knotts Scary Farm” during October. At Knotts this time of year they have staff who are paid to scare people! That’s right. They have employees with the job of frightening people! They hide in the bushes or behind walls and jump out at people, letting out blood curling screams!
What Happened to “Trick or Treat”?
Halloween was fun when our kids were little and we took them trick or treating. They dressed up in cute, fun costumes and knocked on the doors of neighbors who were super friendly and gave them candy. Well, those days are long gone for us and so now it seems I’m just left with all bad stuff of Halloween. In fact, there are fewer and fewer Trick or Treaters.
I prefer celebrating the Lord of hosts and his heavenly kingdom! But everywhere I go it seems that people are excited about the devil’s day. Many people love to celebrate ghosts and goblins and bloody skeletons. I’m not talking about Casper the friendly ghost! Demonic images abound in theatres and on television, in offices and on houses, and in costumes that people wear — even to work!
Fear vs. Love
At Halloween we play with creepy stuff and we hype up fear. But we all must face real fears. We probably don’t have enough money. We may have pain or health problems. We have loved ones who are suffering. We have to face people who are critical or don’t like us. We fear failure or rejection. We know we will die one day. And in our news everyday we are reminded that there are murderers, rapists, and terrorists living nearby.
Most everyday I talk to people who are struggling with anxiety or fear. Why do we worry? How come we cower? Because Love is not filling us. “Perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18).
And why are we not filled with God’s love? Because we want to be in charge of our lives. Most of us have said a prayer at some point asking Jesus Christ to be the Lord of our life. And we meant it. But are we practicing living in submission to the Lord in the details of our lives?
When we’re anxious we’re not submitted to God – we’re trying to control things. We’re not relying on the Holy Spirit; we’re relying on our natural human abilities. We’re worrying about performing our best, making our situation turn out right, or getting people to think well of us. Absorbed with self we miss the reality of God’s loving presence all around us.
Jesus says, “Fear not!”
But Jesus says to you and I: “Fear not!” Again and again he says this. Throughout the Bible God’s angels and prophets give us the good news: “Fear not!” God wants us to Fear Not! 365 Days a Year!
There are many encouraging “Fear Nots” in the Bible. Perhaps the most precious “Fear not” is Jesus saying: “Fear not little flock for your Father has been pleased to give you his kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
Did you take Jesus’ words to heart? Read them again: “Fear not little flock for your Father has been pleased to give you his kingdom.”
Our Good Shepherd is saying to us:
You are my precious sheep and I want you to know my Abba Father as I do: He loves you so much! He delights in you! It has given him great pleasure to provide for you the glorious riches of the Kingdom of the Heavens. It’s open to you right now. So follow my example and bring yourself and whatever you are doing under the Father’s rule and discover the peace that only comes when you submit yourself completely to God.
Thank you Lord Jesus Christ: you make me smile! Your minister God’s peace to us – even when all around us there are creepy things and very real threats.
