Halloween. Pagan rituals, ghouls, ghosts, and goblins. Candy, parties, and trick or treating. There is so much tied to this holiday now that it can be difficult as a Christian to decide what to do on it. Do you participate? If so, in what fashion? Do we rather simply identify with reformation day? It's definitely a bigger issue if you are raising kids in the world. So what does one do?
A good friend and brother of mine, Mike Tong, gave me some good practical advice one day. You have the Holy Spirit and conviction. I will leave all of the advice on this one to you. We spent time with friends and our kids, but more than that God ministered to me as He completed His work around me through people.
Ephesians 1: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlyplaces in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which Helavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.
What a blessing to know a couple of things from this passage. First, God is working His plan. What is His plan? He is summing up all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on earth. God is uniting all things to Christ is how it is translated in the ESV. This will occur in the fullness of time. We know that in the end, when the time has come, He will have unified all things in Christ. This is a mystery that has been made known to us. Who is us? Those He (God) has predestined to adoption as sons through Christ Jesus for Himself. This is intentional and kind of Him and a gift of grace through redemption which includes forgiveness of our sins.
So how does this relate to Halloween you might ask. Well…..I'm so glad you asked!
I woke almost unaware of the "holiday". It was a spiritual battle from before my first step this morning. Upon realizing what day it was, I felt a need to pray. Not for the obvious reason. It was not because Halloween is a day the devil relishes in his temporary reign as prince of the power of the air. It was because I was in spiritual turmoil and couldn't tell why. It was completely me centered. Upon thought I was reminded that this is a day that celebrates demonic creatures and pagan customs. I wondered what I should do. Where should my stand be? Surely people would ask why I do or don't celebrate. Should I let my kids dress up? Should I pass out candy? Am I sponsoring paganism by participating? I never caught up enough to really choose to do anything. God was merciful.
At work, I had several individuals speak with me about my faith. I got to share the power of God in changing my life. I got to meditate on the difference in my life today versus the past. I also got to meditate on my sin and constant need. In the midst of the me centeredness, a co worker asked to pray with me for our office. Yet another co worker joined us. The concern was for souls that did not know the truth. There was an honest want for souls to know Christ and be saved. It was a blessing to experience. I do not share this to brag on our spirituality. I honestly do not believe in really sharing what and when you pray about, but this is different. This was a tool God used to minister to me and I believe that God uses what He gives to us to share with others.
So here's the point of all this.
On a day that is basically controlled by Satan, God had His people positioned and burdened to pray for His will to be done. It wasn't blatant or for display. It was hidden and tucked away. Prayers flowed all day. God works through prayers and the prayers were in regards to people coming to know the one true God who sent His only begotten son Jesus Christ to die for the sins of those who believe upon Him. On a day where God has always seemed absent, He was working in the background to unite people to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is hopeful. If this is what happens on Halloween, and I'm sure many of you have similar stories, just imagine what He is doing on other dark days where He "seems" to be absent. Our God is sovereign and He is surely not absent!
He sits in Heaven and does whatever He pleases! He rules over all things in the heavens and the earth! He is the God over Hell and there is no other creature who is an equal to Him. Satan can have the entire country dressed up and celebrating death and demonic power and God will still prevail through it all! He needs no one, but still He keeps a remnant to be the channel blessed to be used by Him for His mighty work!
In these dark times, I urge you to keep your eyes on the cross. Do not let the accuser of the brethren, the great deceiver Satan, convince you that God is absent…or powerless…or unable to change what is going on. He is sovereign over all and His work, His kind intention, takes time which He has chosen to be used to bring it about. One day this evil will come to an end and be judged AND sentenced to what it deserves. All things in heaven and on earth will be united to Christ----and it will be glorious! Today is passing. It will end. This is what God has ordained. In it, He will still get glory and honor and praise! Be hopeful brothers and sisters! Be hopeful! Our king is coming! He has others to redeem! Let us pray for His work! Let us pray for His glory! Let us praise His revelation of this great mystery and hide it in our hearts to meditate on!
Grace and Peace!
Mike
