Throughout all seven of the Narnia books, we learn who Aslan is, see his power, and experience his goodness. He lays down his life for Edmond. He talks and walks with Lucy. He turns Eustance back from a dragon into a human. He is always there when his people (or creatures) need him. He is the King. When each person first sees or meets "The Great Lion", they are afraid. But once those who are "his"(the "good guys") know him, they see his goodness and love him.
Lately, I've been struck by how Aslan is such an incredible picture of God. Our Lord is awe-inspiring, fierce, and strong. Hebrews 12:29 says, "Our God is a consuming fire." We should fear God. We must stand in awe of Him. A lion is a beast with fierce beauty. God used this picture to describe Himself (Hosea 5:14, Revelation 5:5). It's important that we recognize why. God isn't just a cuddly, sweet, teddy-bear to have around and hang out with. He is so much more. He is God and He deserves our adoration: "let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe" (Hebrews 13:28b).
Such an awesome God stirs my heart. Because He is so amazing, I love Him. He is so much more than a mushy, quiet, small, comfortable person to be around. He is absolutely incredible and worthy of all our worship. He is God. Isaiah wrote, "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said, 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!'" He so majestic. And we should fear Him because He is so great: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31).
Am I saying that we should be afraid of God? Not in the sense that we are paralyzed by fear and are scared of God. I'm talking about a fear that stands in awe of such a powerful, majestic God. If we are saved through trusting Christ alone for salvation (by grace through faith - Ephesians 2:8-9), we don't need to be afraid that God will reject us or that He doesn't love us. We can know that what He says is true. He always keeps all of His promises, for "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). And God's perfect love casts out all our fears (1 John 4:18). My hope in this post isn't to make you scared of God, but instead to awaken a holy awe and worship through this picture of a lion. As young women walking with Christ, we need to stand in awe of God. He is the most incredible One. We cannot take Him for granted or take Him lightly. For He is real. He is the living God. And He deserves all our worship.
There's something else that I love about the picture of "Aslan". C.S. Lewis created in this lion the powerful, majestic, fearsome aspects of God, but countered it with gentleness and goodness. He and Lucy shared many quiet moments together. Lucy was always looking for him, having faith that he would come. One of my dear friends, Kelsie, shared with me how she relates to Lucy and Aslan's close relationship, saying that it reflects her walk with God. For Lucy and Aslan shared sweet, tender closeness and companionship. Our God's majesty should inspire awe in us and also deep love and a deep desire to draw near into His presence. For we learn that He is not only strong, but that He is also gentle, and He is always good.
Through Christ, as the author of Hebrews writes, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water" (Hebrews 10:22). Because of Christ's cleansing, we can draw near. We can know that He will welcome us with open arms. "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). Just as Lucy looked for Aslan with the eyes of faith, and confidently drew near to him, longing to be in his presence, let us draw close to our Lord with faith and delight. "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).
God is awesome. He is fierce and strong, as well as gentle and loving. When we take the full picture of God to heart, studying His Word to better understand Him, there is so much beauty to be discovered. God is so far above us. But through Christ, He is also with us.
Just as the Pevensie children asked, we should query, "Is God safe?" The answer is no. But, He is incredibly good. Let's walk in the fear of the Lord and draw nearer and nearer to Him, knowing that it is a privilege to enter His presence. May we only love Him more deeply as we see Him more clearly and experience Him more fully. He is awesome, amazing, incredible, wonderful, majestic, loving, true, good…the list could go on forever. And our list of His attributes will continue to eternity and beyond. As we worship Him together, He is honored. "Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name" (Hebrews 13:15).
In the fear of the Lord,
Christina
P.S. I'll be sharing this article (though probably adapted and expanded) in the October Matters of Her Heart email.
Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory!
