Scrumdidlyumptious!

 

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for is good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13 ESV).

 

“Scrumdidilyumptious” is just one of the words that came to exist as a result of a children’s film. This one comes from “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” It is a musical fantasy from 1971 directed by Mel Stuart and starring Gene Wilder. The film tells the story of a poor child named Charlie Bucket who, after finding a Golden Ticket in a chocolate bar, visits Willy Wonka's chocolate factory along with four other children from around the world. It is a great story that catches the viewer by surprise as Charlie ends up inheriting the entire factory because of his moral decision to confess his violation of the rules of the “contest.” It is full of fantasy, and yet seems to describe the incredible ending of our stories. The great difference is that we did not first confess. Jesus paid for our sin and set the wheels in motion for our inheritance.

 

A good story always has a way of catching you by surprise, even if you know how the story ends. Classic fairy tales have become very familiar in many cultures, yet those same stories have kept generations of children wanting to hear them again and again. Classic novels and movies have become familiar to many of us also, yet they still keep us on the edge of our seats. Though these stories may become familiar, they still manage to catch us by surprise, and we appreciate the complex twists and turns of the story lines. We know how these stories turn out, but the suspense still seems to grab us.

 

God’s gospel stories are no different. While the familiar death-to-life theme surfaces often, we can still be swept up in a story’s suspense and action. And we often forget some of the details, even if we’ve heard the stories since we were children. We have that. The stories of our lives show an unbroken pattern of God’s faithfulness, even in hard times. Yet we still forget. With each new challenge or crisis, we find ourselves wondering whether God will really come through one more time. When that happens, we need some­one to remind us what’s really going on. That’s what the apostle Paul does in our reading for today. Follow through on your salvation because deep down you can trust where this story is going: God is working in you for his good purpose. It will end in a scrumdidlyuptious delight!