The Parable of the Pumpkin

Tonight was pumpkin carving night at our house. Now of you don't carve pumpkins, you can just exit now and I'll understand, but I'd really like for you to listen a bit to the parable of the pumpkin.

First, all the 'little pink things' choose what they'd like to have carved on their pumpkin, momma tries to trace or draw it on the pumpkin, and then daddy does the carving.

Afterwards, we talk about 'Christian'--the pumpkin who chose Jesus! Christian lived in the patch with his family and friends. Life was pretty good for Christian, but at times, he felt an emptiness way down deep inside--even though his life was very 'full', something was missing--or maybe someone. (Romans 3:23) He knew that he was helpless to leave the 'patch' on his own and that it was only "by grace that he could be saved" (Ephesians 2:8) so he prayed and Jesus--who is "faithful and just to forgive us our sins" (IJohn 1:9) came to him. He lovingly picked him up and washed away all the dirt and carried him to safety.

Christian now looked pretty good. He was nice and clean on the outside, but something still wasn't quite right within (Matthew 23:27,) so he prayed again and asked God to take away all the yucky seeds inside that kept making him want to return to the dirty old patch of sin.
God knew that Christian was sincere in his desire, so he began cutting. The cutting was painful, "for God's Word is sharp and powerful," (Hebrews 4:12) but the carver was so kind and assured Christian that it would be worth it all--for he was giving him "a new heart and taking away the old stoney one." (Ezekiel 36:26)
Inside, they found seeds of doubt, hate, greed, envy, dishonesty, pride and many other sins. Some things Christian didn't even know were in there. Christian was embarrased and humbled at all that God was doing for him. Of course, the scraping and probing hurt, but God said "not to be afraid and as he removed things, he replaced them with a peace and joy unlike anything the 'patch' could ever give." (John 14:27)
The happiness inside was reflected in the cheery smile that Christian now wore. (Proverbs 28:14)

It was not enough though, that Christian himself was happy. God told Christian that "Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14) and he put the light of his love inside of Christian that it might shine out to others.

God then told Christian to "Go into all the world" (Matthew 16:15) and tell the good news of the Gospel. He did not just set Christian on a pew in an elegant church building, but sent him back into the patch that he might be "In the world but not of it." (John 17:15)

Not everyone Christian witnessed to accepted Jesus, but Christian refused to become discouraged for he believed the promise that if he "was not weary in well doing, he would reap..." (Galations 6:9)

And he did reap in the end--in the great harvest of eternity--for his influence was more far reaching than he ever knew in his lifetime.

After I told the story and we discussed it a little, (interresting conversation) :) we sang

"This little light of mine--I'm gonna let it SHINE!"

Disclaimer: This parable is drawn from "How being a Christian is like being a pumpkin" and from the Bible, of course! :)