“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.” ― C.S. Lewis, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”

These memorable words, spoken of Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia series, are a useful reminder of just who it is in whom we trust.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world, the Lamb of God who was crucified in weakness. Representations abound of Him apparently helpless on a cross. It is as if He remains there permanently and we are free to make whatever use of Him we choose. But He died as the faithful Servant of His Father, suffering so much in order to bring “many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10). This great purpose is what God is working out in the earth, and this is why He will ultimately judge the world.

But when a crisis comes, our eyes are rarely on eternity or the purpose of God, but on our own comfort. “O Lord”, we cry out, “Heal me, deliver me, save me! Why have you let this disturbance come into my life? Let me continue to ignore You and live just as I please!” We quote, claim or declare a few fragments of Scripture that seem to promise an easy life but completely ignore the whole which speaks so plainly of the eternal plan of God and the lengths to which He has already gone to bring it about.

Man wants ease; God wants righteousness. In His everlasting love, He will discipline His children to any extent that is necessary to accomplish His purpose in them. This is the lovingkindness of the Lord.

A tame Lion? Not at all!

“Indeed before the day was, I am He; and there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?” (Isaiah 43:13)

“We know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:20-21)

(Photo courtesy of Sarah)