Issue 722 – If I Only Had a… – April 22, 2022
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum and the related books have entertained millions. The 1939 movie of the same name with Judy Garland as Dorothy has entertained millions more.
Dorothy is transported from her home in Kansas to the magical land of Oz by a tornado. In her search to find her way home, she befriends a cowardly lion, a rusty tin man and a brainless scarecrow.
Dorothy searches for her way back to see her Auntie Em in Kansas. The lion seeks courage, and the scarecrow wants a brain. The tin man longs for a heart.
Together they search Oz in search of what they are each missing having dangerous adventures along the way.
Eventually, they encounter a mysterious wizard, who turns out to be a fraud. He gives them substitutes for what they seek. The lion gets a medal, the tin man a clock and the scarecrow a diploma. Dorothy must find her own way home.
While I doubt it was Baum’s intention, the world of Oz epitomizes the emptiness of the world and its promises. In the end, the king of this world can only provide counterfeits. He can never satisfy our true deepest needs.
So often, we think in terms of “If I only had a …,” You can fill in the blanks with your own longings. Perhaps it is a newer or bigger house, a better job, a new spouse, more education, fame, fortune etc. None of them will genuinely satisfy.
Where will we find true love? It is not a tin man’s watch but a personal relationship with Christ.
How about courage? Courage comes from knowing who we are in Christ and understanding the absolute sovereignty of God. A brain? We can gain the fear of the Lord, and that is the beginning of knowledge.
What about a way home? A narrow gate leads us to our true eternal home with the Lord.
All we need is to be found in Christ. Now that doesn’t mean all we want. Sometimes what we want isn’t what we need.
Paul understood that our needs could be fulfilled in Christ.
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13
The Scriptures tell us to seek our actual needs in Jesus.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34
We do not need to go searching for some mystical Oz or chase the things of the world. Our Father can provide all we need for eternity.
Give Him the glory due His name.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed.
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV). Spelling modified to Canadian English as required.
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