Pumpkin Carving

It is the second day of October, and fall is certainly here to stay. The high was about fifty degrees and unfortunately, it has been raining all day. I like the rain. It bothers me when it rains longer than a few hours though. The practical reasoning of staying dry does not annoy me, but more the depressing feeling one gets when they have to endure an entire day without sunshine. Despite weather's sad fate for today, I embarked on an adventure. I attempted to carve a pumpkin-something I have never completely done on my own, but rather my parents when I was seven and I simply drew the face. This time I got down and messy as I scooped slimy goo out of ten pound pumpkin. After I was thoroughly grossed out and exhausted, I finished my smiling pumpkin face (with some help of course...) complete with a cross on the back (picture above).

The pumpkin carving process reminded me of a similar Biblical principle. In the same way that I had to scoop out the "impure" insides of the pumpkin, Christians must get rid of their impurities inside, sin. Romans 3:23 says "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." No one is perfect and everyone has missed the mark of God's perfect standard. We all fall short. The only way to "scoop out" our sins is to give them to Jesus. By dying on the cross for all of humanity, he bridged the gap between sin, which separates us from God. If we choose to put our trust in Him and repent of our sins, Jesus "washes them white as snow." We no longer possess the impurities of our sinful nature and are now pure.

1 John 3:2-3

"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure."

Just like the pumpkin, I am now pure. I want to be pure and innocent, but only through Jesus Christ. I thank Him for saving my life and carving me from my sin to become blameless and pure, a child of God.

-Pumpkin carved with love by Bubbly. Photo by Bubbly's friend.