The Magic Kingdom…

Are you sad today? …Feeling blue?

Have you seen the movie, Enchanted? I love this movie, don’t you? If you haven’t seen it, Enchanted is a modern day, tongue-in-cheek tribute to the classic Disney films that many of us grew up watching. It also reminds me also of the TV series, “The Wonderful World of Disney”. And now, I really am dating myself.

I remember when our neighbors got the first color television set on our block. All the other neighborhood kids had seen it, but me. Everyone else had been asked to come over to experience the new technology, so I was feeling quite sad about this until one Sunday night, they invited me to come and watch. When I got the invitation, I was so excited. I could have burst wide open. I had no idea what we would be watching, but at the moment, that didn’t matter, because I was finally going to get my turn. As it happened, The Wonderful World of Disney was the show we were to watch. So, as the opening credits began, I was not disappointed, oh no on the contrary… the wait was well worth it. I was completely and absolutely spellbound. Because it was Disney, my first exposure to excited photons striking phosphoric coated glass was supremely spectacular. The now colorized images made the pictures surreal. Flashing fireworks, Disney movie clips and kids whirling around in giant teacups in a place called Disneyland truly captured my child’s heart. It was a wonderful world because Disney had made it so. Walt Disney had to be the smartest and most creative man in the entire world to create such gloriously, beautiful images and to envision such an enchanted place as Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom. I desperately wanted to go there one day to see it… experience it… live it for myself… this wonderful world.

Now that I am grown, I must say I did go visit Disneyland about ten years later and it was just a fantastical as I thought it would be. My new prince charming took me there on our honeymoon and we did share a moment in time in this magical kingdom. But as I look back, there is a place that will be even more spectacular than Disneyland or Disney World or even Epicot Center. It was created to capture our hearts for all of eternity… it is heaven in which we will be with the creator of our beautiful and wonderful world. Earth will pale in comparison to our new home and being embraced by our lovely and glorious God.

“I am creating new heavens and a new earth; everything of the past will be forgotten. Celebrate and be glad forever! I am creating a Jerusalem, full of happy people. I will celebrate with Jerusalem and all of its people; there will be no more crying or sorrow in that city. No child will die in infancy; everyone will live to a ripe old age. Anyone a hundred years old will be considered young, and to die younger than that will be considered a curse. My people will live in the houses they build; they will enjoy grapes from their own vineyards. No one will take away their homes or vineyards. My chosen people will live to be as old as trees, and they will enjoy what they have earned. Their work won’t be wasted, and their children won’t die of dreadful diseases. I will bless their children and their grandchildren. I will answer their prayers before they finish praying. Wolves and lambs will graze together; lions and oxen will feed on straw. Snakes will eat only dirt! They won’t bite or harm anyone on my holy mountain. I, the LORD, have spoken” (Isaiah 65: 17-25).

“Shout happily to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD cheerfully. Come into his presence with a joyful song. Realize that the LORD alone is God. He made us, and we are his. We are his people and the sheep in his care. Enter his gates with a song of thanksgiving. Come into his courtyards with a song of praise. Give thanks to him; praise his name. The LORD is good. His mercy endures forever. His faithfulness endures throughout every generation” Psalms 100:1-5.