Cause I've got a golden ticket
I've got a golden chance to make my way
And with a golden ticket it's a golden day
Anyone remember this movie?
Perhaps you've seen Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory; more recently titled Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. A movie which was made in the early seventies and remade several years ago. The movie, though I've watched it quite a few times creeps me out. There's a darkness present even though the theme is based on a misfortunate young boy named Charlie having the chance to make his dream come true.
If you haven't had the opportunity to see it or need a refresher, the main character is Charlie who lives with his widowed mother and four elderly grandparents who he helps care for. Great news to Charlie and every other child in the world is that a well-known candy maker has hidden five golden tickets inside his candy bars. The lucky ticket finders are promised a tour through Wonka's factory and a life-time supply of chocolate . Four of the winners are unbalanced children with specific behavior problems such as gluttony, being spoiled, lacking manners and and being obsessed with television. I can only speak for myself and my family but I know that we have all suffered a touch of these issues. Golden ticket holder number five? You guessed it; sweet young Charlie. To sail through most of the movie (you'll have to watch it) each character is lead by their misconduct to their doom unable to finish the tour; dropped from the story. Charlie and his grandpa also break the factory rules at one point by sneaking into the Fizzy Lifting Soda room. To grandpa and Charlie's dismay Wonka reveals that because they broke the rules he is disqualified from his lifetime supply of chocolate. His grandfather remembers that a sly candy maker had approached Charlie early in the story requesting a gobstopper so that he could recreate the recipe promising them riches in return. Grandpa encourages Charlie to get revenge on Wonka by finding then giving the mysterious man the much coveted gobstopper. Charlie refuses and returns to Wonka the gobstopper given to him earlier in the story redeeming his character by doing the right thing even though he felt cheated.
Do you get the feeling we represent every ticket holder in the story? I know I have my golden dream. The characters in the story were given the factory tour promised. But it wasn't enough. You find each character wanting more. They ignore the rules and warnings given by the factory owner. After all, the golden ticket giver couldn't possibly make possible their golden dream. They know what they really want. The children are seen in all kinds of self- indulging behaviors such as gulping from an off-limits chocolate river and popping an experimental three-course dinner gum ball. Each character never feels quite satisfied.
Charlie gives up his golden dream (the dream to be rich) as he returns the gobstopper to Wonka. Wonka tells Charlie he has passed the test. He has forfeited HIS golden dream unbeknownst that Mr. Wonka has something much better in store. Charlie will not only get his lifetime supply of chocolate but will also inherit the entire factory.
This reminds me of Solomon when God basically promises him his golden dream (1 kings 3:5). God tells Solomon "Ask for whatever you want me to give you". Solomon, reminded of God's great kindness, asks for a discerning heart. God hands Solomon a golden ticket and Solomon gives it right back.
He doesn't ask for a new car.
He doesn't ask for the newest version of the iPhone.
He doesn't ask for riches or a Disney vacation.
He asks for the gift- to keep giving. He wants God to enable him to serve the people knowing that's what God has called him to do. That's novel don't you think: trusting the one who has given us all that we already have. We each have a golden ticket at our fingertips. We can clutch it and selfishly pursue our own golden dream (pleasure), but no doubt will find ourselves dissatisfied. Or we can redeem that golden ticket by placing it back in the hands of the one who promises us an inheritance that far outshines any golden dream we have for ourselves