This is a story about a girl trying to find her way home. After a whirlwind experience, she has lost her way, and can’t find peace and safety.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (NKJ)
Let’s meet some of the characters. As we do, see if you can identify with any of them in your own life.
Dorothy
Suddenly finds herself in unfamiliar circumstances after trying to solve her own problems by running from them. She realizes she’s “not in Kanas anymore,” and wishes for “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” She has a fear of losing Toto that escalates into difficulties finding her way back to the place of peace and safety.
Romans 5:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Berean)
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. (NLT)
2 Corinthians 5:8-9 We live with a joyful confidence, yet at the same time we take delight in the thought of leaving our bodies behind to be at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we live or die we make it our life’s passion to live our lives pleasing to him. (Passion)
The Wicked Witch of the West
Represents the thief who wants to steal Dorothy’s life, and keep her from the promise land of peace and safety.
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Proverbs 28:28 When the wicked come to power, people hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous flourish. (Berean)
The Scarecrow
The person of indecision can’t make up his mind. He’s not good enough, he’s not qualified, and he’s not smart enough – “If I only had a brain.” He has a fear of fire.
James 1:6-8 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (NKJ)
1 Corinthians 2:16 “Who has known the mind of the Lord so that he can teach him?” However, we have the mind of Christ. (GWT)
The Tin Man
The person who feels empty and unworthy is held by regrets of the past. Their heart is rusted- frozen in time. Loveless and lifeless his fear of rusting represents getting old and not fulfilling his God-given purpose.
1 John 3:18-22 Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth. 19 And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God, 22 and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.
The Cowardly Lion
A person gripped in fear puts on a good front pretending to be something they are not. They know deep down inside they are not living the life they were created for; “If I were the king of the forest.” Fearing almost everything, he worries about everything. Fear often looks like wisdom to those in unbelief.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. (NKJ)
Revelations 5:9-10 “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us king and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” (NKJ)
The Wizard
He represents religion with all of its rules and regulations; presenting himself powerful with all the answers. However, once the smoke and mirrors are gone and the curtain pulled back, he is exposed for what he truly is – man’s idea of what’s right and wrong. He has a fear of being wrong and therefore does not like being questioned and loathes not being believed. The religious try to hide the truth that doesn’t go along with their agenda.
John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (NKJ)
