:     “It Pays to Know the Story”

Max Lucado, pastor and well-known author tells this story: “My theater career peaked when I was 9 years old. I was a member of the Odessa Boys Choir, a collection of 30 young boys whose primary task was to sing at Women’s luncheons. We wore green blazers and black pants and walked on stage singing, ‘Hey, look me over…’ Our big break came during my second year of choir. The Junior College needed some youngsters to be the Munchkins in  ‘The Wizard of Oz’.   We were all thrilled. So long Women’s Auxiliary. Hell-o-o-o-o-o Broadway.”  Lucado goes on to say: “But our little feet never touched the stage until dress rehearsal. We rehearsed in a different place at a different time. We never saw the Junior College actors. Never saw Dorothy, never saw the Scarecrow and knew nothing about the Wizard. Now you may assume everyone knows the story of the yellow brick road - after all the Wizard of Oz was on TV once a year, every year, on Sunday night. The free world kids got to stay home and watch it, but not me. No siree! We had church on Sunday night.  I had heard of the Wizard of Oz, but knew nothing about it. So practicing every day - away from the main group - not knowing the story, I assumed we WERE the story. I would walk on stage to the sound of applause as the director announced, ‘Now welcome the Lullaby Guild Munchkins and the Wizard of Oz.’ I would step out, hand my gift to the Kansas farm girl, Dorothy would be swooning at my feet and the crowd yelling ‘we want more of Max the Munchkin! More! More!’ Imagine my chagrin when I learned the truth. Standing there that night – all smiles – when out of the cackle of smoke a wicked witch, flying on a broomstick. They didn’t have to tell me to ‘act afraid’– I was scared senseless. Of course I would have known IF I’d known the story.” 

     Not knowing the end of the script can be a scary situation. That’s why it’s good to know the story. Revelation 20:10 tells us the defeat of our worst enemy. “Satan, who tricked them [God’s people], was thrown into the lake of fire….there they will be punished day and night forever and ever.” That’s the story! WE WIN!   I know the story. Now you know it too – maybe it’s time we run this race, take this journey, and enter this stage like winners. We’re not just ‘munchkins’ stumbling along, dodging a ‘witch on a broomstick’ we’re KING’S kids. So do we WHINE or do we WIN?  WE WIN!          – Pastor  Querry