The Real Scare

I know that the “spooky season” has passed, but I couldn’t help but think of this. Every October, people pull out decorations, carve pumpkins, and enjoy the fun of dressing up for Halloween. There’s something exciting about a good scare- knowing it’s all pretend, that the monsters aren’t real, and the ghosts are just costumes. But aside from all the fun and scares of the season, there’s something that really scares me year-round. The real scare for me is the possibility of not being the man that God has called me to be.

Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). The kind of fear Jesus speaks of isn’t about hiding under the covers after watching a scary movie. The kind of fear Jesus is talking about is a fear and respect for God’s authority. The true “fear” we need is the awareness that nothing in life is more important than walking faithfully with Him.

Halloween reminds us how easy it is to put on a costume and become someone else for a night. Spiritually, it can be tempting to do the same: to wear a mask, pretending everything is fine when our hearts are distant from God. Paul urges us, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!” (2 Corinthians 13:5). That kind of honest self-check is what keeps us growing into who we were meant to be.

The real scare isn’t what’s outside of us- it’s what happens inside us when we stop pursuing God’s purpose. This season, as families enjoy the fun and fellowship of fall, let’s also take time to look inward. Are we becoming the people God has called us to be? Are we walking faithfully, serving humbly, and loving sincerely?

Because when all the costumes come off, that’s what truly matters- not who we pretend to be for a night, but who we really are before the presence of our God.

Written by: Mason MacDonald