Monday, January 10, 2011

The Pursuit of Christ

A few years ago, I decided it was time to read C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. His spiritual allegories were just what I needed at the time to make some significant biblical truths more precious, more poignant. And in the process I fell in love with Aslan. As I watched the recently-released “Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” I was reminded again how much I love him. I love his intimate tenderness with Lucy. I love his gentle justice with Peter. His approachability with all creatures, great and small. I love his heroic sacrifice at the Stone Table. His redemption of Eustace. His strength. His authority. I still get goose-bumps when the White Witch is silenced and sat down by his roaring response to her doubt of his integrity. Despite its brave façade, evil shudders at the thought of Aslan. When Aslan comes on the scene, I get excited. Something great is going to happen. When Aslan comes on the scene, all will be made right.

But Aslan is only a fictitious shadow of the true Lion. The great King. The One whose existence established tenderness, justice, authority, and love. Without Christ, Aslan would never exist.

So you can imagine my sorrow when I realized Aslan elicited stronger emotion in my heart than Jesus. It’s a true travesty when the copy is regarded more than the type. The problem isn’t with Aslan. It’s with me.

The reason a moving story or breath-taking scene can stir my affections such is because I haven’t spent enough time engaging the real Person. Surely if I grasped a fraction of the majesty and marvel of Jesus, a mere fictitious allegory, no matter how well-written, would seem the pale comparison it is and my response would correlate to that knowledge.

So, resolved, by God’s grace: get to know Jesus better. Be intentional about studying Him in the entirety of Scripture. I start in the Old Testament. Stay tuned...

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