The Reformation of a Pumpkin



Sunday of course was Reformation Sunday, and at our church the last Sunday night of each month has a youth emphasis. This past Sunday evening, we began by singing "Little is Much when God is in It." and then we met "Christian."

 



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', it felt like 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 quickly to his row. 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 carver gave him eyes to see himself first for the sinful man that he was an then to see with love his fellow-pumpkins lost estate.
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 little lifetime. Because he simply was faithful.

 

At the end of the story and by the time our real pumpkin was carved and all lit up with light, even little Kaderick was moved to tears. We thought at first we was crying because, you know--four year olds sometimes cry when things don't go just so--but he told us he was just crying because he was so happy.

 

We closed with the littles singing "This Little Light of Mine."