A man tried to sell a one‑ounce Maple Leaf on a
beach in a prominent section of town.
“Will you buy this gold coin for $50?”
“No, I don’t have any money.”
He approached a woman, “Would you like this Canadian coin for only $25?
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t have $25.”
“Suppose I offer this to you for free, will you take it?”
The woman turned it over and examined it.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Do you want it?”
“No.”
No one recognized the value of the coin worth over $1,100. Have we become so
fooled by paper money that we believe the counterfeit is worth more than gold?
A look at history might reveal a clue. During the Great Depression, governments
around the world abandoned the gold standard. In 1933, Congress and President
Roosevelt banned private ownership of gold and asked citizens to turn in their
gold at the rate $35 per troy ounce-essentially robbing Americans of their
wealth.
Although it became legal to own it again in the 1970’s, the money changers
(Federal Reserve Bank and central banks) suppressed its value to bolster the
dollar and manipulated the system to their advantage.
Gold became worth less than the counterfeit because it was not considered
currency. This enabled the Federal Reserve and the central banks around the
world to control the vast money supply.
Gold, a precious metal, has been used by man since ancient times for commerce.
He recognized it for what it was-rare and valuable; but today, gold can’t even
be identified on a beach by passersby.
The yellow brick road in The Wizard of Oz symbolized gold. It carved its
way through a beautiful fairyland called Oz inhabited by Munchkins, but the
fabled Land of Oz was overshadowed by evil witches. Perhaps today they would
represent the self-serving moneychangers, the greedy capitalists, or the
Washington bureaucrats who recklessly spend our money but are mortgaging our
children’s future.
While counterfeits abound, God never abandons the true believer. The Good Witch
of the North, Glenda, loved the Munchkins. God has given us His Holy Spirit.
“The mysterious Wizard of Oz might be able to help you to return home,” Glenda
and the Munchkins told Dorothy.
Dorothy set off on the yellow brick road to meet the Wizard of Emerald City.
Along the way she greets three friends who join her-sojourners in search of a
brain, a heart, and a nerve.
But when they meet the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy discovers the horrible truth. The
Wizard was an imposter. The dog Toto exposed him as a fraud.
Today, as in The Return to Oz, our yellow brick road is crumbling, paved
in green fiat money as financial establishments teeter on the brink of
collapse.
In heaven, no longer will we be standing on broken yellow bricks. Our eyes will
recognize the intrinsic worth of God’s creation and the counterfeits of man-the
idols, the liars, and the fakes. All except the pure will have vanished—not
destroyed with water but with fire, as gold is refined by fire.
I hope to be like a Munchkin, but even more so. Heaven won’t be inhabited by
evil witches but angelic creatures that serve a risen Savior.
God will be our King, not a cowardly wizard hiding behind a curtain. He will be dressed in kingly garb as He bathes us in His light. Neither will ruby slippers be able to bring us home. A deeper magic, more costly than gold, more valuable than riches, hewn from wood and thorns, will transport us. With the counterfeit world left behind, Jesus will welcome us on a real yellow brick road richly paved in gold.
