Safe? Who said anything about Safe?
By Phillip White
Claira and I have found a theme mentioned in C.S. Lewis’s 1950 book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to be very powerful in our lives as of late, around the idea of safety. Lewis writes of Aslan, the roaring lion and good king (purposeful parallel), who is not safe – but he is good. It reminds me of the situations that the Lord often places us in where He wants to use us, but we must be OK with sacrificing our safety and comfort for the sake of the Gospel.
We see this depicted even in the Great Commission in Matthew 28, which is etched into the wall on the side of our church building. Jesus speaks of His authority, then tells us to go to the ends of the earth, to all nations. He sent the disciples and His followers to all people. All people means everyone, regardless if they look like us, think the same as us, or vote the same way we do. He commanded us to share the Good News using the teachings Jesus has instructed us with – which He even gave us in SparkNotes version in Matthew 22:37-39. Then Jesus finishes His commission by promising that He “is with you always, to the very end of the age.” He doesn’t send us out alone, He gives us Himself to call upon, and He is good. A friend recently mentioned to me that sometimes the Lord calls us to take a risk. Going to a new city or country may be a risk. Serving in a new ministry may be a risk. Inviting a neighbor to dinner may be a risk. Regardless of what it is, when the Lord truly calls us to something, we can trust Him.
“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion.”
“Ooh” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”…
“Safe?” said Mr Beaver ...”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
Claira and I have found a theme mentioned in C.S. Lewis’s 1950 book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to be very powerful in our lives as of late, around the idea of safety. Lewis writes of Aslan, the roaring lion and good king (purposeful parallel), who is not safe – but he is good. It reminds me of the situations that the Lord often places us in where He wants to use us, but we must be OK with sacrificing our safety and comfort for the sake of the Gospel.
We see this depicted even in the Great Commission in Matthew 28, which is etched into the wall on the side of our church building. Jesus speaks of His authority, then tells us to go to the ends of the earth, to all nations. He sent the disciples and His followers to all people. All people means everyone, regardless if they look like us, think the same as us, or vote the same way we do. He commanded us to share the Good News using the teachings Jesus has instructed us with – which He even gave us in SparkNotes version in Matthew 22:37-39. Then Jesus finishes His commission by promising that He “is with you always, to the very end of the age.” He doesn’t send us out alone, He gives us Himself to call upon, and He is good. A friend recently mentioned to me that sometimes the Lord calls us to take a risk. Going to a new city or country may be a risk. Serving in a new ministry may be a risk. Inviting a neighbor to dinner may be a risk. Regardless of what it is, when the Lord truly calls us to something, we can trust Him.
“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion.”
“Ooh” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”…
“Safe?” said Mr Beaver ...”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
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