Follow the Yellow-brick Road

Yay!  I was finally able to load a new picture by using a different browser.  I don't understand this stuff, but I'm just thankful this method works - praise God!

The top photo shows our little Dorothy (portrayed by granddaughter Marisa) standing in her familiar farmyard in Kansas shortly before a tornado came and blew her away to the Land of Oz.  In the photo below, she's just been told her house fell on the wicked witch and killed her -- "Uh-oh!" She says.  I don't quite understand why the Land of Oz has a blue-brick road in this picture, but keep scrolling down --

Finally, the famed Yellow-brick Road with the Emerald City in the distance

and Toto still safely held in Dorothy's basket.  

There are many spiritual lessons we can find in this familiar story, but the one I'm going to focus on in this post is seen in this third picture.  We're all following the yellow brick road of life, singing the cute little song, "Follow the yellow brick road, follow the yellow brick road...." The road leads through quiet fields, scary forests, and all sorts of good and bad events.

 

Some people are following the road, searching for that Emerald City where they are hoping their greatest need/wish will be fulfilled.  Trouble is -- the "world" is following a path that leads them to nothing more than that painted picture of a green city we can see at the end of the road in the picture.  And -- along the way they wander through fields of red poppies that lull them to sleep (like in the movie) to the realities of real life.  Therefore, they end up finding out that the "Wizard of Oz" is just a big fake -- with no real power in himself at all.

 

How does this relate to the real world and spirituality?  Of course, we are all on the road of life, following the path that has been set before us to its final destination.  The question is -- what are we seeking?  Are we seeking the will and way of almighty God, who has a good purpose for our lives and has all power to accomplish it.  Or, are we seeking that famous Wizard who has fooled everyone into thinking he has the power to fulfill wishes and needs?

 

Proverbs 14:12 tells us, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."  The path can look oh, so, appealing, but not be the path God wants you on.  The shiny delights of a one-dimensional Emerald City is not the destination God wants for His beloved creations.

 

Psalm 16:11 offers a better vision:  "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."  This is the road that leads to a good end -- and also offers us the best sort of scenery along our journey.  This road is found through acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior -- He is the One with all power and with the perfect road map to get us to the Eternal City where all our needs will truly be fulfilled.

 

Jesus tells us, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes unto the Father but by me."  In a way we could say, He is the true "yellow brick road" that we should all follow.