I. Introduction
These are the stories we learned as children. Either told to us by parents or at school as we gathered at the feet of our teachers. These tales taught us life lessons and truths that we had to think through to grasp. However, unknown to many of us they also taught us significant spiritual truths! Let's look at one of these fairytales we know so well and see if we can unwrap a spiritual truth that is in it.
This particular fairytale was first published in English in 1800's and has remained a mainstay in schools, bedtime stories and of course has been made into a movie by Disney. It has carried several names including Henny Penny. However, you would probably best recognize it by the title . . . Chicken Little.
One day Chicken Little was playing in the yard when, whack, an acorn hit her on the head. “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” she said. “I have to tell Cocky Locky.” “Cocky Locky! Cocky Locky! The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” Cocky Locky said, “It is? Well then, we have to tell Ducky Daddles!” “Ducky Daddles! Ducky Daddles! The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” Ducky Daddles said, “It is? Well then, we have to tell Goosey Poosey!” “Goosey Poosey! Goosey Poosey! The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” Goosey Poosey said, “It is? Well then, we have to tell Turkey Lurkey!” “Turkey Lurkey! Turkey Lurkey! The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” Turkey Lurkey said, “It is? Well then, we have to tell the king!” But on the way to tell the king, they met Foxy Woxy. “Foxy Woxy! Foxy Woxy! The sky is falling! The sky is falling! We have to tell the king!” Foxy Woxy said, “I can help! Follow me! I know a shortcut to the king.” Foxy Woxy led Chicken Little, Cocky Locky, Ducky Daddles, Goosey Poosey, and Turkey Lurkey right to his den. He licked his lips and said, “Step inside to see the king.” “Tricky Foxy Woxy! The king is not in there!” they shouted and ran away as fast as they could. At last, they arrived at the castle. “King! King! The sky is falling! The sky is falling! A piece of it fell on my head!” “The sky is not falling. An acorn fell on your head,” the king chuckled as he plucked the acorn from Chicken Little’s head. And so, Turkey Lurkey, Goosey Poosey, Ducky Daddles, Cocky Locky, and Chicken Little went back home. “Whew! The sky is NOT falling!”
This simple tale teaches us truth. I want you to notice a few things before I take you to a parallel Scriptural account. In Chicken Little's world the sky WAS indeed falling. Notice that everyone around Chicken Little agreed that the assumption, evaluation, conclusion that the sky was falling was in fact correct. I also want you to notice that that Foxy Woxy tried to take advantage of the dire situation and use it to destroy Chicken Little and friends. And finally notice that the misunderstanding about the sky falling was only resolved when they were able to get the King to correct their thinking.
I wonder how many of us, with our limited perspective and field of view, have concluded that the sky is falling? In our world with pandemics, storms, political unrest, opposing views, unending clashes it is easy to come to this conclusion. For some we have come to this assertion not because of what is happening in the world at large but rather because of what is happening under our tree. Things are falling down not only around us, but on us.
We have tasted tragedy.
We have felt fear.
We have been injured by injustice.
We have been hit with heartache.
We have been punched with pain.
We have stabbed with sickness.
It is an easy and logical conclusion to cry "The sky is falling." In our world that seems to be true. And to make matters worse, because of our plight, our pain, our path those around us agree. When others see the terrible things that we are going through. When others see the amount of pain that has hit our lives. When others see the number of tears that we have cried. They assume no one can endure this. No one can overcome this. No one can kick this. No one can defeat this. So, they examine the brokenness that has been cascading over our lives and they sit back and like Job's friends of old they see no way out and see no end in sight, so they shake their head in pity and join the cry . . . “the sky is falling - curse God and die”.
And just like in the account, old Foxy Woxy isn't far behind. The one who capitalizes on our catastrophe. The one who cashes in our crushing. Ready to make a meal of us. Ready to finish the job that the pain started. He tries to lure us in to total loss of hope. Complete control of fear. He wants to lure us into an inescapable dungeon of despair. At our lowest and most vulnerable moment the old fox shows up in an attempt to get us to give up. He tries to steal the last ounce of hope and trust we have left. He tries to trap us so that we are never able to move past the problem, the pain, the memory, or the moment.
Oh, I promised you a parallel account. May I introduce you to Chicken Little in the Bible? In fact, from the same chapter can I show you two Chicken Littles?
TEXT: Mark 5:21-24 (GNT)
Jesus went back across to the other side of the lake. There at the lakeside a large crowd gathered around him. Jairus, an official of the local synagogue, arrived, and when he saw Jesus, he threw himself down at his feet and begged him earnestly, “My little daughter is very sick. Please come and place your hands on her, so that she will get well and live!” hen Jesus started off with him.
Jairus' sky was falling. I have learned, as many of you have, that the greatest pain in life occurs when something happens to your kids. I can endure a lot of things but when one of my kids is in pain my sky is falling. Helpless, terror in the soul, unfathomed pain. His world lay crumbled around his feet. He runs frantically and desperately to Jesus and asks for help. The only problem is everyone wanted Jesus' help. So, in the Jesus begins the trek to Jairus' help but He is stopped. The woman with the issue of blood touches Him and the mad dash ambulance ride to Jairus' emergency gets stuck in the traffic jam of another "the sky is falling" account. Ever been there? You desperately need Jesus but He seems to be delayed or detoured?
Mark 5:35
While Jesus was saying this, some messengers came from Jairus' house and told him, “Your daughter has died. Why bother the Teacher any longer?”
While Jesus is putting the woman's world back together Cocky Locky and Turkey Lurkey arrive and they not only do they agree with Jairus they seal the deal . . . the sky has fallen. Don't bother Jesus this story is over. This defeat is final. All hope is gone. And the old fox licks his lips!
Mark 5:36-42
Jesus paid no attention to what they said, but told him, “Don't be afraid, only believe.” Then he did not let anyone else go on with him except Peter and James and his brother John. They arrived at Jairus' house, where Jesus saw the confusion and heard all the loud crying and wailing. He went in and said to them, “Why all this confusion? Why are you crying? The child is not dead—she is only sleeping!” They started making fun of him, so he put them all out, took the child's father and mother and his three disciples, and went into the room where the child was lying. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha, koum,” which means, “Little girl, I tell you to get up!” She got up at once and started walking around. (She was twelve years old.) When this happened, they were completely amazed.
Chicken Little and Jairus both believe the sky is falling. On the information they have their assumption and conclusion is correct. Trusted advisers agree. However, in both accounts the solution is the same. In both accounts the solution is found when they get to the King.
The only solution when your sky is falling is to get to The King!
Chicken Little was able to get to the king. Jairus' was able to get to The King!
Some of you are in "the sky is falling moments!" The bank is calling and there is no financial miracle in sight. The doctor has spoken what sounds like a final diagnosis. The relationship seems too shattered to be restored. The addiction seems to be too strong and has gone on too long. So, how do we keep our head up? How do we continue to serve? How do we keep our joy? How do we keep walking? How do we keep fighting? How do we keep our peace? When our sky is falling. When it feels like our world is crashing down around our feet. When it feels like we can't endure another day we must get to The King. He alone can tell us that death is really just sleep. That the setback is just temporary. That the pain is momentary. That the hurt is but for a season. Only the King can give us the strength needed to break chains. The one thing that Jairus got right that Chicken Little didn’t is that he went to The King first! Why is it that we make the king the last stop instead of the first stop? Why do we wait to ask His perspective until we get every goose and turkey's opinion first? We need the King's perspective. We need the King's view. Perspective was corrected when they got to the King.
Isiah 55:8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
We must get to The King. Some of you in this room are convinced that the sky is falling. You have never had it this bad or seen it this tough. Get to The King.
Some of you have people around you who agree. You can't bounce back from this. You can't beat this. You can't live this down. You can't recover. Get to The King.
Some of you are being lured away by the old fox. He is trying to take advantage of your great pain and your fear. He is trying to lure you into destruction. Get to The King.
Some of you have felt the last straw fall, the other shoe has dropped and you are at wit's end! It is time to get to The King!
I lift my eyes to the hills … it is perspective … when we get to The King the sky isn’t falling. Look up The King is the glory and the lifter of my head! If I can get to The King I can survive!
