How a Christian is Like a Pumpkin
My family and I love carving pumpkins every fall. I’m not completely sure if this is just an American tradition or not. If you are one of my international readers you’ll have to enlighten me! I think I read somewhere that this tradition started in Ireland?? Anyhow, in case you’re not familiar with the tradition, in the fall typically around Halloween, we carve pumpkins, put a light inside of them, and then display them as a festive decoration. They are sometimes called jack-o’-lanterns.
I have often heard the analogy of how a Christian is like a pumpkin. My mom even passes out little cards along with candy explaining this analogy to Halloween trick-or-treaters. I thought this same analogy would make a timely post for this fall season!
So here is how a Christian is like a pumpkin….
Like a pumpkin, we have to be chosen
Just like I choose a special pumpkin to carve, God has chosen us. We are chosen and special to God, adopted into his own family.
“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT)
“For you are a holy people, who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.” Deuteronomy 7:6 (NLT)
“You have been set apart as holy to the LORD your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.” Deuteronomy 14:2 (NLT)
“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” John 15:16 (NLT)
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
Like a pumpkin, we have to be open
Just like I first have to cut an opening in the top of the pumpkin to carve it, I first have to be open to God and to receiving him.
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelation 3:20 (NLT)
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” John 1:12 (ESV)
Like a pumpkin, we have to clean out the yucky insides
Like a pumpkin, we need to be cleaned out
In order to carve the pumpkin, we have to clean out all of the seeds and mess from the inside of it. Much the same, when we ask Jesus to be our Lord, the sin and mess inside of us are cleaned out.
We initially have evil hearts—AKA yucky insides like a pumpkin
“This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.” Ecclesiastes 9:3 (NIV)
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT)
“And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” Mark 7:20-23 (NLT)
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.” Ezekiel 36:25-27 (NLT)
“Those who make themselves clean from all those evil things, will be used for special purposes, because they are dedicated and useful to their Master, ready to be used for every good deed.” 2 Timothy 2:21 (GNT)
God forgives us and cleans and washes us up—taking out our yucky insides
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NIV)
“Wash me thoroughly from my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51:2 (GWT)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” Psalm 51:10 (ESV)
“He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5 (NLT)
“Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11 (NLT)
“Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.” Hebrews 9:14 (NLT)
Like a pumpkin, we are being formed and shaped into a beautiful likeness
After we’ve been forgiven and cleaned, God is not done with us yet. It’s an ongoing transformation process of God molding us, shaping us, and carving us to be more like him. Ongoing corrections will take place throughout our lives and our progressive walk and relationship with God. God will “carve” us to look more and more like his son, Jesus. This process is called sanctification.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 (NIV)
“Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:23-24 (NLT)
“Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” Colossians 3:10 (NLT)
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Romans 8:29 (NIV)
“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 (NLT)
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians 2:13 (NLT)
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 (BSB)
Like a pumpkin, we have to add light
Like a pumpkin, we need an internal light
When our pumpkin has been carved we put a candle or light inside of it to illuminate it and let it shine for others to see. Similarly, Jesus, THE light, will be a light shining out of us through our lives for others to see! He put his Spirit in us so now we can be a light to others and shine the love of Jesus.
Jesus is THE light
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NIV)
“While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5 (NIV)
“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.” 1 John 1:5 (NLT)
His Spirit lives in us
“Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NLT)
“And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:22 (NIV)
“But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)” Romans 8:9 (NLT)
“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” Romans 8:11 (NLT)
“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV)
We need to be a light
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
“While you have the light, believe in the light so that you will become people whose lives show the light.” After Jesus had said this, he was concealed as he left.” John 12:36 (GWT)
“…so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” Philippians 2:15 (NLT)
“For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NLT)
“All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of glory.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 (GNT)
“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18 (KJV)
“The life of the godly is full of light and joy, but the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.” Proverbs 13:9 (NLT)
“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.” Ephesians 1:18 (NLT)
Take Some Practical Steps to Be Like a Pumpkin:
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First realize that you are special, chosen by God.
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Secondly, open your heart to God, invite him in, and receive him.
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Next, receive his forgiveness and realize that your sins are forgiven.
Remember, GOD does the cleaning, not you! Jesus already did the work. He gets all the yucky stuff out.
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Then, God will continue to mold you and shape you to become more like Jesus, as an ongoing, lifelong process.
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Finally, let the light of Jesus inside of you shine through your life for others to see!
Now go carve a pumpkin and share this analogy with others!
How have you been like a pumpkin? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below!
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If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward! Share this post via the sharing links below. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
*Updated: Originally posted 10/27/2020
