Witches or Wisdom?

The practices of Halloween as we know them originated with the Celts who lived in what is now Great Britain, Ireland, and Northern France. Their new year began on November 1. The Celtic Festival of “Samhain” began the previous evening, October 31. This festival honored “Samhain,” the Celtic lord of death. This celebration marked the beginning of the season of cold, darkness, and decay. The Celts believed that “Samhain” allowed the souls of the dead to return to their earthly homes for the evening. During the festival, people wore costumes made of animal heads and skins.
According to Irish legend, jack-o-lanterns were named for a man called Jack. He could not enter heaven because he was a miser. Neither could he enter hell because he had played jokes on the devil. Therefore; Jack had to walk the earth with his lantern until Judgement Day.
We have again witnessed the celebration of Halloween here in the United States. You have been exposed to the haunted houses, witches, and skeletons. You have probably seen innocent young children trick-or-treating in their devilish costumes. You have observed the countless porch and lawn decorations of spider webs, glowing jack-o-lanterns, headstones, and ghosts.
What should our response as Christians be in a dark world of such superstition? Are the celebrations of Halloween just a fun time or just a good joke? Isn’t Halloween really to celebrate fear, darkness, and death?
While the world wallows in such darkness and superstition let us, the people of light, offer something far better. May we be people of Wisdom, Light, and Life, instead of Fear, Darkness, and Death!
Proverbs eight is full of God’s wisdom. Wisdom was brought up with God. Wisdom was set up from everlasting. Before the earth was created, wisdom was! The Lord possessed wisdom in the beginning.
Wisdom loves those who love wisdom. The kings of the earth reign by wisdom. Wisdom dwells with Prudence, and durable riches are found with Her. The fruit of wisdom is better than gold, and those who seek Her early will find Her!
So, what will we celebrate? Fear of the unknown, or Everlasting wisdom? Empty superstitions, or Durable riches? Darkness, or Light? Death, or Life?
Wisdom dwells with Prudence. Does Prudence dress Her daughters in devilish costumes or take Her sons to see the witch in the haunted house?
Does Prudence waste any time at all with “Samhain” the Celtic lord of death?
Dear friends, spend all of your time with JESUS the LIGHT of LIFE! Tell the blinded world of a much better celebration- The celebration of Everlasting Wisdom, Durable Riches, and the Light of Life that is found only through the saving blood of Jesus.
Introduce your children and the town trick-or-treaters to the Lady of Wisdom. Help them find Her early in life so that they can walk with Her and avoid fears, superstition, and death.
“Now, therefore, hearken unto Wisdom, O Ye children: for blessed are they that keep Wisdom’s ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth Wisdom, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of Wisdom’s doors. For whoso findeth Wisdom findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord” (Prov 8:32-35).
May we be found daily in the Orchard of Wisdom. God help us to believe this Fruit is better than gold! While passing out this Fruit to other needy souls, may the world about us see that we have something much better to celebrate than fear, superstition, and death.