When my children were young, Veggie Tales was at its peak in popularity. As my niece’s outgrew this Christian cartoon series, my oldest sister Kathie passed on her videos to me. One of these was entitled Madame Blueberry. This episode features a store called Stuff Mart. This was well before Amazon became the dominant online Super Store. Yet, Revelation speaks of a Stuff Mart of the Bible in the last days on earth.
And earth’s businessmen will weep and grieve over her because no one buys their freight (cargo) any more. 12 Their merchandise is of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet [stuffs]; all kinds of scented wood, all sorts of articles of ivory, all varieties of objects of costly woods, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 Of cinnamon, spices, incense, ointment and perfume, and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, fine flour and wheat; of cattle and sheep, horses and conveyances; and of slaves (the bodies) and souls of men! – Revelation 18:11-13.
John has a vision of either what Amazon will become or speaks of a global conglomeration where all merchandise is bought online. As an Amazon employee, it’s ironic how many items mentioned by John in his vision are already available. While I haven’t watched Madame Blueberry in 20 years, it appears that John describes the Stuff Mart of the Bible.
The ripe fruits and delicacies for which your soul longed have gone from you, and all your luxuries and dainties, your elegance and splendor are lost to you, never again to be recovered or experienced! 15 The dealers who handled these articles, who grew wealthy through their business with her, will stand a long way off, in terror of her doom and torment, weeping and grieving aloud, and saying, 16 Alas, alas for the great city that was robed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, bedecked and glittering with gold, with precious stones, and with pearls! 17 Because in one [single] hour all the vast wealth has been destroyed (wiped out). And all ship captains and pilots, navigators and all who live by seafaring, the crews and all who ply their trade on the sea, stood a long way off, Revelation 18:14-17.
In the tenth video of Veggie Tales, Madame Blueberry is a French blueberry who likes having anything she wants. This cartoon addresses materialism while highlighting a poor family who has developed an attitude of thankfulness for what little they do possess. While Americans daily struggle between needs and wants, third world nations are struggling to survive. May today’s blog help you realize that while stuff is nice, only Jesus will satisfy your soul, John 10:10.
by Jay Mankus