Last week I finished up Harry Potter book 7 and it was an enjoyable read for fun and entertainment. There was good and evil, valiant fights and brave sacrifices, loyalty and friendship. It was a good read, but C.S. Lewis uses such imagery and draws such deep comparisons to the joy of living with Christ and the hope of Heaven that I get pumped up and have to tell people about Narnia.
The Dawn Treader is a story about the journey of King Caspian (accompanied by Lucy, Edmond and cousin Eustace) sailing to the Eastern Sea to seek answers concerning seven Narnian lords that disappeared years ago. At each new island they each they find different challenges. Sometimes there are friends, oftentimes there are dangers lurking nearby. Though Aslan does not travel with them physically, he shows up when they face fear, temptation and trials. One of my most favorite scenes happens when they are at the Dark Island. They are lost and surrounded by darkness in a place that makes your nightmares truly come to life. When the crew is panicking and at their wit's end, Lucy remembers Aslan.
Lucy leant her head on the edge of the fighting-top and whispered, "Aslan, Aslan, if ever you loved us at all, send us help now." The darkness did not grow any less, but she began to feel a little--a very, very little--better....
"Look!" cried Rynelf's voice hoarsely from the bows. There was a tiny speck of light ahead, and while they watched a broad beam of light fell from it upon the ship. It did not alter the surrounding darkness, but the whole ship was lit up as if by searchlight...
Lucy looked along the beam and presently saw something in it. At first it looked like a cross, then it looked like an aeroplane...at last with a whirring of wings it was right overhead and was an albatross. It circled three times round the mast and then perched on the crest of the gilded dragon at the prow. It called out in a strong sweet voice what seemed to be words though no one understood them....Drinian steered after it not doubting that it offered good guidance. But no one except Lucy knew that as it circled the mast it had whispered to her, "Courage, dear heart," and the voice, she felt sure, was Aslan's, and with the voice a delicious smell breathed in her face.
In a few moments the darkness turned into a grayness ahead, and then, almost before they dared to begin hoping, they had shot out into the sunlight and were in the warm, blue world again.
I talked about Aslan so much that my friend, Klamesha, drew an incredible piece of art for me a few years ago! I love the relationship between Lucy and Aslan; she trusts Him, follows Him, respects Him and is genuinely joyful in His presence. She's open as she talks to Him, as she asks for help, advice, and courage. Lucy seeks to be with Aslan always. That's why, when we near the end of the book and Lucy and the others have to head back to England, there's this heartfelt exchange between them:
"There is way into my country from all the worlds," said the Lamb; but as he spoke his snowy white flushed into tawny gold and his size changed and he was Aslan himself, towering above them and scattering light from his mane.
"Oh, Aslan," said Lucy. "Will you tell us how to get into your country from our world?"
"I shall be telling you all the time," said Aslan. "But I will not tell you how long or short the way will be; only that it lies across a river. But do not fear that, for I am the great Bridge Builder. And now come; I will open the door in the sky and send you to your own land."....
"It isn't Narnia, you know," sobbed Lucy, "It's you. We shan't meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?"
"But you shall meet me, dear one," said Aslan.
"Are--are you there too, Sir?" said Edmund?
"I am," said Aslan. "But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This is the very reason you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there."
Jesus was there from before the foundation of the world. He has created us for fellowship with Himself, even though we stubbornly rejected and refused Him as we chose our own path and sought our own glory. Praise to God the Father who loved us immensely and sent His only Son to take the punishment that we brought upon ourselves. He bore our sin, shame and guilt so that we might be enabled to come into His family as righteous sons and daughters.
I'm so glad I've met the great Bridge Builder. I know that when its time to cross the river, he will be by my side. Aslan is a fantastic character in a wonderful children's story. Jesus Christ is a very real Person who lives today and eternally. As Lucy said, it's not about Narnia (heaven), it's about Him. If you don't know Christ, you don't have life. John 17:3 says, "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
This isn't a preachy plea to give Jesus a spare moment of your time, rather it's a testimony that I've truly considered life and purpose and both of those come up short without Christ. It took a children's story to remind my heart how much I love and need Jesus. It's not about religion or duty; it's about relationship. When we know the one True Love, we are able to truly love ourselves as His creation and others as well.
And since this post is already too long, if you're still reading you must like it so I'll leave you with a quote from the most valiant, determined warrior of a mouse who ever lived in Narnia on his quest to see Aslan's country for himself. As you can see, he was positively obsessed with adventure. I hope to have his passion and perseverance as I strive to follow after Jesus.
"My own plans are made. While I can, I sail east in the Dawn Treader. When she fails me, I paddle east in my coracle. When she sinks, I shall swim east with my four paws. And when I can swim no longer, if I have not reached Aslan's country, or shot over the edge of the world in some vast cataract, I shall sink with my nose to the sunrise and Peepiceek will be head of the talking mice in Narnia."
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