Oz or God?

The Wizard of Oz is one of the favorite stories and films of all time. Someone suggested the reason for this is that most of us can relate well to Dorothy, because “we too often find ourselves surrounded by brainless, heartless, and spineless people.” Actually, there are many important lessons found in the story that touch both our hearts and minds. Yet, we can be led astray if we take the tale too seriously, especially if we start to think that God is very similar to the Wizard of Oz.

The Wizard, of course, pretends to be great and powerful, but in reality, he is just a balding professor who can stage a good light show. He has no brain for the scarecrow, no heart for the tin man, cannot give courage to the lion, and cannot get Dorothy and Toto back to Kansas. What the Wizard can do, however, is assure everyone that they already possess what they think they need. He notes that as they dealt with the wicked witch, the scarecrow displayed wisdom, the tin man showed compassion, and the lion demonstrated courage. In the end, Dorothy too learns that she doesn’t need help from anyone else to get back home. By just clicking the heels of the ruby slippers together she can go home anytime she chooses. The moral of the story seems clear: Everything you may need, you’ve already got. The answer to any problem you may face is to just look deeper inside yourself, because that is where you will find the answer.

Now, what I just said probably sounds familiar because it is an idea that is often advocated by much of the media, many schools, and even some churches. Yet, there seems to be a disconnect between this view and reality. Many of us suffer from a deep brokenness and corruption in our souls that prevent us from loving other people as we should. Though we often insist we are “ok,” we expend considerable time and energy trying to convince ourselves and others that we really are. It doesn’t seem that we already have the answers we need.

The Bible also teaches that the solutions to our problems and answers to our questions cannot be found within ourselves. It is only when we turn to the living God, the triune God, and put our trust in Him that we begin to find what we really need in life. Unlike the Wizard, God’s power is very real, and we can be confident He is able to do whatever is necessary to accomplish His purposes. In fact, while the Wizard greatly disappointed Dorothy and her friends, those who look to the Lord will find that He is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Friends, I will probably always find it a treat to watch The Wizard of Oz. I want to make sure, however, that whenever I need help, I choose to turn, not to a wizard, my friends, or inside myself. Instead, the God of the Bible is the one to whom I must turn, because He is the one able and willing to provide what we really need.