The last two weeks we have been looking at what it means to
fear God (here and here), and I think that author C.S. Lewis illustrated this fear perfectly in
his beloved series The Chronicles of
Narnia.
Some of the modern movies have added to the conversation
between Mr. and Mrs. Beaver and the Pevensies, so I want to look at part of the
conversation from the original book.
When the Beavers are telling siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund,
and Lucy Pevensie about the White Witch (who symbolizes Satan) and the lion
Aslan (who symbolizes God), they are naturally very inquisitive. Aslan is
described as one who is “the Lord of the whole wood,” and yet he is absent
while the Witch is ruling over Narnia. The Beavers tell how Aslan will come and
destroy the Witch and set all wrongs right.
“Ooh!” said Susan, “I
though he was a man. Is he—quite safe?”
Mrs. Beaver replied,
“If there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking,
they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”
“Then, he isn’t safe?”
said Lucy.
“Safe?” said Mr.
Beaver, “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about
safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” [1]
And with that simple discourse Lewis beautifully illustrates
how a Christian should fear the Lord. Who said anything about safe? ‘Course He
isn’t safe. He is the Creator of hell, the One who will destroy Satan and his
minions, and the One before Whom every knee will bow and every tongue will
confess that He is Lord.
But He’s good. He’s the King. And if God is a good King then
I can also trust Him. Yes, Jesus has called me His friend, but that doesn’t
make Him my homeboy.
A healthy fear of God is found in the one who, like Queen
Esther, comes boldly before the throne of grace, but never forgets that God is
just.
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