The Real Legend of Stingy Jack

“I never tricked the devil,” Jack confessed. “The devil tricked me. The story about me wandering through the night was a lie. I died without forgiveness and without Christ. “The Jack-O’-Lantern cannot protect anyone from evil. It has no power over demons. Only the light of Christ can save you!”

Years later, Jack’s great-nephew Eli settled in Maryland after leaving Ireland during the Great Famine. He became a wealthy pumpkin farmer and considered Stingy Jack a hero. Like Jack, Eli valued money more than people. He held Caleb, Ruth, their daughter, and others in slavery. Even after they had worked beyond the value of their supposed debts, Eli used lies to keep them enslaved.

One night, Eli was counting his money when flames rose from a Jack-O’-Lantern. A grim figure emerged. “Eli, tonight your soul is required of you!” Eli’s pupils widened. Sweat covered his forehead as he clutched his heart and fell from his chair.

When he opened his eyes, he was lying in a dark, burning place. Before him stood the ghostly figure of Uncle Jack, bound in chains and surrounded by flames. “Uncle Jack!” Eli cried. “I thought you escaped this place!” “My story was a lie,” Jack answered. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. You may deceive people, Eli, but you cannot deceive God. Do not follow me! Turn to Jesus while there is still time!” Jack disappeared into the flames. Eli fell to his knees,“Jesus, I never took You seriously. If You save me, I will change my ways for good! I will free everyone I have enslaved and repay what I have taken. Please save me!” Frightening Jack-O’-Lanterns crept from the darkness and closed in around him. “Jesus! Please save me!

Suddenly, a brilliant light broke through the smoke. The frightening lanterns shattered. In their place appeared a radiant pumpkin with a glowing heart and a cross formed from its own rind. The darkness vanished. Eli awoke on his office floor in the morning sunlight. His clothes were intact, but his face was covered in sweat.

Eli placed his faith in Christ. He freed Caleb, Ruth, their daughter, and everyone else he had enslaved. He confessed his lies and began making restitution. Later, Caleb carved a heart and cross into a pumpkin while Ruth used its pulp to make pies. “This light does not honor Stingy Jack,” Caleb said. “It reminds us that Christ breaks every chain.” They called it a Christ-O-Lantern. Eli made Caleb and Ruth his business partners. Together, they used their earnings to spread the gospel and support the abolition of slavery.

If you died today, where would you go? This Halloween, do not carve a Jack-O’-Lantern. Carve a Christ-O-Lantern—a reminder that only the light of Christ can break the chains of fear, sin, injustice, and darkness. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.” —Matthew 5:16 jesusparty.net | mobilefaith.org