Chuck E. Cheese and the Last Days
This week I accompanied our youngest to a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese’s. Don’t get me started on the marketing genius who thought a rodent should make for a great mascot for a kids’ restaurant, that’s for another day.
She loves these parties but has one problem: she is afraid of Chuck E. Cheese.
We’ve told her it’s most likely a high school kid trying to pay their texting bill (as in a recent episode of the Disney show, Good Luck Charlie) and that the person is more likely scared of the kids and their antics than we should be of him/her. I watched our daughter and until he showed, she was paralyzed by fear strictly out of anticipation. Once he showed, she was fine. It was waiting for him that put her on such high alert.
I’m the same way when I open biscuits. The packaging is better but it wasn’t that long ago I was squeezing and twisting the canister waiting for the pop and was certain my heart rate tripled in anticipation. Once it popped I was fine, it was knowing it was coming.
This reminds me of the times we’re living in. I read a lot of blogs and social media and between Egypt, Libya, gas prices and now the earthquake in Japan, there is fear across the land. Fear of what’s next is as paralyzing as waiting on Chuck E. Cheese to make his appearance.
Matthew 24 warns that there will be awful things happening in the last days—wars, rumors of war, famine and earthquakes. We’re there, those things are happening and are threatening to continue. Fear is a constant temptation to grab onto much like closing my eyes when I open the biscuit canister.
Fear doesn’t stop the inevitable.
Peace is a supernatural consequence of rock solid faith and prayer that gives the courage to brace for all things—waiting on Chuck E. Cheese, opening biscuits, and fearing natural and economic disasters. When people ask how I survived that season or overcame that time it wasn’t because I made perfect choices. I overcame by peace God alone can give through my believing in His Son. Faith in Christ gives me the knowledge that in time of stress I can lean hard on Him and be still and know He is God.
And He’s Sovereign.
That means He’s bigger than Chuck E. Cheese.
And the coming pop from my biscuit opening.
And war.
And famine.
And mean people.
And natural disaster.
And the economy.
And as the VeggieTales so eloquently taught me, God is bigger than the boogie man.
Will you trust God through seeking a friendship with His Son, Jesus, today?
Originally published March 11, 2011
