Well, Halloween is upon us, with All Saints Day quietly on its heels. And whether you dress up, carve pumpkins, pass out candy, and decorate your house, or turn off your porch light and hide in the basement (we've done all of the above over the years, indecisive as we are!), you can't ignore it.
We can celebrate it as Reformation Day (we actually named one of our dogs Martin Luther when we adopted him on October 31st) or All Souls' Day or Halloween, take your pick. But, if nothing else, this day ought to remind us of those who have gone before, those who have fought the good fight and finished the race. Take a walk through Hebrews 11, and marvel at what God has done through His flawed and forgetful people over the centuries. And thousands, maybe millions, more names could be added since then.
In his prayer book, Everyday Prayers, Pastor Scotty Smith today reminds us that the work has always been God's. And he prays: I'm only a saint because the Father has hidden my life in yours. My only "dress" is your righteousness, plus nothing. I will run and finish the race because in you, Jesus, I live, move, and have my being. I will make it to heaven not because of my efforts but because of yours. I'll not busy myself with tricks or treats, because everything that is yours is now mine, Lord Jesus. What wondrous love and eternal inheritance is this, indeed! Check it out tomorrow at http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scottysmith/. It's worth reading in its entirety.
So snuggle up in the basement this evening, or enjoy the little ghosts and goblins that come to your door. But remember who you are in Christ, not who the world wants you to be. You are a saint because of His work on your behalf.
And the jack-o-lantern above? It's the continents of the world in all their glory. But that's probably another blog post.
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