I recently went to see the second movie in the Chronicles of Narnia series, Prince Caspian. I went with some trepidation and much attentiveness because of some comments I had heard about this movie. The Chronicles of Narnia Is a series written by author C.S. Lewis as an allegory of the Christian life. The most powerful of these tales is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which portrays the lion Aslan as a Christ figure in a mythical world who dies for the transgressions of one of his followers. The symbolism is both powerful and obvious.

After Prince Caspian came out I began hearing comments from those who had seen it. Many said they were disappointed because it did not have enough “faith content” or that Aslan was not in the movie enough. I think those people either did not really understand the movie or do not have a good grasp of the Christian life. I thought that the Christian journey was very powerfully portrayed in this second movie. In fact, I am amazed at how well the screenwriters seem to have understood what Lewis was after here and they boldly present the Christian struggle perhaps even more clearly than Lewis himself did.

Our salvation experience, which is what The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe allegorizes, is the single most powerful event in most Christians’ lives. It is very emotional, very dynamic, very powerful, and very real. It is probably the time in our lives when Christ is the most obviously present with us. But then the real challenge begins. When we walk with Christ through the rest of our lives His presence isn’t always so obvious. He never leaves us but we don’t always see him beside us. He has given us a path to follow and guidance along the way, but it takes a great deal of faith to continue seeing this leading. Sometimes we feel abandoned altogether. We go off and forge our own way, and usually fall flat on our faces. It is then that we remember to seek Him and follow His leadership. We get our lives back on track when we do things God’s way.

This is the allegory of Prince Caspian. When the children get to Narnia they expect Aslan to meet them with instructions. Lucy sees Aslan but the others don’t believe her. She is afraid to follow him on her own. When all else fails, they do follow the path Aslan led them to, but they still don’t really trust his presence with them. When it comes time to do battle against the evil king, Peter states that they must do it themselves this time. They do not wait for Aslan. And they fail miserably. We expect Caspian to be tempted by the white witch, but are a little surprised by Peter being drawn by her promises and wiles. Thankfully, he is not walking alone and Edmund is there to offer his strength. In the end, they realize that Lucy was right all along. Aslan will help them. In fact, he has been there waiting for them all along. Things may not look the same as they did before, but he has always been present. He is just waiting for them to call on him. To have faith and trust in him. To realize that they cannot do it themselves. They need faith. They need Aslan.

I don’t think I have even seen a more powerful portrayal of the Christian life on the big screen.

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)

Submission is not usually easy, at least initially. Most of us have a desire to be in control, or at least in charge. But God has put an authority structure in our lives as a means of protection for us. It is not always easy to know the mind of God. The desires of those in authority over us are much easier to discern. Don’t follow blindly. Make sure those you follow are seeking the face of God and studying the Scripture. Then rest in their leadership as they follow Christ. God is good to us in this way, by not leaving us out here floundering to figure out how to live for Him on our own. There is freedom here.

“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (ESV)

We all want to be in control. Many of us were participants in or raised by moms who participated in the 1960’s. The ideas of independence and personal liberty became the clarion call. We as women thought this would be liberating and bring happiness. But if that is true, why are so many today miserable? Why is the divorce rate so high.

Control does not bring happiness. The desire for control was part of Eve’s PUNISHMENT! True joy is found when we give up control. Only God knows what is for our best as well as for His glory. Give up the reins to Him. Trust those He has put in authority over you. Then you will find joy.

Consequences. That is a word that none of us like. Sometimes when my kids make a mistake they come to me and ask forgiveness. Sometimes I must tell them, “Yes, I forgive you but there are still consequences to your actions.” And then i have to watch painfully as they live with those consequences.

We are forgiven in Christ. But there are still consequences to our actions. Sometimes they are obvious and sometimes they are more subtle.

Good choices have consequences as well as bad. James 3:18 says, “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

So seek to honor God in all of your decisions.

“So speak and act as though we are to be judged under the law of liberty.” James 2:12 (ESV)

We live in a society full of victims. We blame the drive-thru restaurant if we spill their coffee in our laps and it burns us. We want someone else to be responsible for our failings.

The problem for the Christian is that God is in charge of all things. Whatever our circumstances, God is in control of them. Therefore we shouldn’t be looking to pass blame. We should be asking God how we can respond in a way that glorifies God.

My situation isn’t my problem. My sinful response to it is the problem.

Ask God to give you the grace to respond to things in a way that honors Him.

I think the author really has it right when she says that the issue isn’t that we cannot obey God. It is that we will not obey Him. God calls us to some difficult things. Our flesh resists. But if we continue to resist the leadership of the Holy Spirit we will find ourselves miserable. Trust God. Rely on His strength to obey His commands. That is hoe we become more like Him.

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

I Thessalonians 5:24 (ESV)

“Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Proverbs 30:5 (ESV)

As I read this section I realized I am guilty of what Nancy DeMoss is talking about. How many times to we give or receive advice based on the world’s wisdom rather than the Word of God?

I need the peace and the healing that comes only from God and is revealed in His Word. And so do those around us. But first we must know what God’s Word says. Spend time there daily soaking up the deliverance that is available there.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

Whatever is in your past, Christ died for it. He can make you a new creation if you put your trust in Him. You will still remember your past and be shaped by it. But instead of carrying it as a burden of guilt, God can use it to mold you into the child of God that He desires you to be. When God gets a hold of us, we are no longer the same.

2 Corinthians 13:9:

For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.

We cannot pull ourselves up out of our circumstances. We cannot overcome sin’s hold on us. We cannot keep from sinning. We are weak. But He is strong. And He is absolutely sufficient for all that we need.

His grace is enough for any difficulty we face.
His blood covers ALL my sin.
The cross can overcome my sinful desires.

I am weak.

He is sufficient.

James 1:17:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (ESV)

I’m glad that God doesn’t make mistakes and I’m glad He is in charge. It sometimes seems like I mess up everything I touch. Sometimes nothing seems to go right. But God’s plans are still accomplished, in spite of my failures. It is comforting to know that God is in control.