When I was 16 I worked at a seasonal haunted schoolhouse. This was very ironic because when I was younger, I was the guy who chickened out at every opportunity to go through one of those creepy things. I remember my dad asking if my brother and I wanted to go to one of those. My brother was all in, but I was not. They tried to get me to go by the effective tactic of mockery and a few well placed chicken clucks but I was immune. There was no way I was going to willingly subject myself to permanently disturbing already tenuous relationship with the dark. Yet, at the age of 16, when I was given the chance to make some money over the Halloween season working as a monster at a local haunted schoolhouse, I somehow agreed.
Even as the Guy behind the mask, I was scared sometimes to work there. Let alone the guys who decided to take on this job who were chain-smoking, neck tattoo wearing, heavy metal rocking guys, I was pretty uncomfortable. Once I got situated in my station up in some cubby hole behind some faux bars, I eased into it. It was even confidence building to scare others; especially the big macho guys. Wearing the mask made me forget about my fears and made me realize that I wasn’t really in any danger.
But then came my chance to walk through the place; sort of as a little bonus tip to all of the late nights us monster employees worked through. One by one, they allowed someone to sub in your spot and then you could walk through the haunted labyrinth, and like any normal American paying customer, pee yourself. I reluctantly walked through the thing but I employed the age old strategy that any child at the pool has used before after being yelled at by the life guard to “Walk!” I “walked” but at such a pace, none of the hidden traps and triggers had a chance to jump out at me and haunt my dreams. Eyes forward, steady strides, and clenched buttocks, I made it to the end without huddling in the corner crying out for my mother.
Since then, I’d like to think I’m a little more brave but I wonder at the peculiar fascination with horror and death, especially at this time of the year. As a country, we’ve gotten less and less devoted to religion and more and more comfortable with death, (at least the appearance of it). Whether true or not, most religions offer some explanation and some comfort about death and the afterlife. It would seem that the less religion there is, the less comfort there would be about death, but here we are with little kids asking me to do an impression of a smiling, murderous clown that takes great pleasure in torturing and eating children because it’s one of their favorite movies.
I think many people are walking around, as if in a haunted schoolhouse, thinking that if they can put on the mask or put on the horror movie then there is really no danger. It gets easier and easier to face the horror when every time you do so, you walk away, unharmed and bragging rights. I think this apparent cozy relationship with death that our culture has is exactly like that. We’ve been lured into a false sense of security about death but the truth that many of us forget is that we will all face death.
The Bible is clear that there is life after death for all, but very different destinations. Jesus said that all will either go away into eternal punishment or to eternal life and it is only the righteous who will go to eternal life (Mtt 25:46).
Eternal punishment? Punishment is bad enough… but eternal punishment is utter horror. I don’t want that. Nor does God. God doesn’t want anyone to suffer eternal punishment. In fact, that’s why we are told Jesus hasn’t returned to judge the wicked yet. He’s giving us time (2 Peter 3:9)! Time for what, though…. Time to pass a test that we have no hope of passing? How can I be labeled “righteous.” I mean, I can delete my internet history but I’m pretty sure God saw that. I can trick others into thinking I’m mostly a good guy, but can I trick God?
The good news is that we can fess up to God and He won’t abandon us. He loves us SO much and hates the thought of you being separated from him for all eternity so much that He poured out the punishment you and I deserved on His own son, Jesus, so that if we believe and receive this gift, we can spend all eternity with Him.
Have you taken the reality of death seriously? Or are you still laughing in the face of imminent danger, only to have the devil’s trap catch you unaware. Or, if you are reading this, you have heard this before but have failed to take the seriousness of death for your neighbors, friends, co-workers and family. Even though they may seem like they are “cool” with death, and so fool themselves, don’t be fooled yourself. Don’t be caught off guard. Fess up to your disobedience to God’s good way and receive the life He has offered through Jesus Christ.
To all that received him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. -John 1:12