I have always been a dreamer. This mind, this imagination, the Lord has given me is constantly filled with new ideas, wonder, and always pushing the definition of what’s impossible. Because with God absolutely NOTHING is impossible. I am relentless in looking for a good adventure and have an addictive love for metaphors. I cannot get enough of metaphors and similes. I naturally come up with new metaphors to describe my life or the things happening around me. By now you’re most likely wondering where I am going with this. You’re thinking, “Oh no, Heidi is rambling on again”. Yes I have a tendency to ramble BUT…I actually do have a point. As we spend the next week exploring the True Magic of Christmas we will make use of the Narnia Series. One book in particular from the Narnia Series: The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe.
This book has so many brilliant metaphors to Christmas that I am bursting with excitement to start showing you them. Narnia is a magical world, filled with adventure, epic battles of good vs. evil, noble love, ordinary people who become heroes (both boys and girls) willing to risk everything for the greater good, and a mighty King lion named Aslan who always comes through to save the day.
I recommend these books to everyone. They are simply amazing. I do like the movies but it doesn’t compare to the book. And in order to go on this journey with me this week you must have a basic knowledge of the book. In other words, you need some training before embarking on the journey. If you have read The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, congratulations, you are ready to go. If not, I have added the SparkNotes link. Take 5 minutes or less to read and get a good understanding of the story’s plot and characters.
Know that SparkNotes will only give you an understanding of the book but I HIGHLY recommend you take the time during Christmas Break to read this book. It is short and an easy read and has a myriad of parallels to the Gospel
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There will be two different worlds that we will be jumping back and forth to. One is the land of Narnia where anything is possible. The second is an enchanting and holy night that happened over 2,000 years ago in the sleepy town of Bethlehem.
Are you ready? If not, this is the last time you’ll be able to walk away. Once you take the first step there is no going back. The path is narrow. I cannot promise you it will be an easy journey. It will take courage, an open mind, and trusting in someone bigger than yourself.
We will start our week long adventure by walking through an ancient old Wardrobe hidden upstairs in a forgotten room filled with dust. Take a deep breath, remember you are not alone, take a step of faith, and feel the bitter-cold cut right through your oversized coat as you enter a world that is currently stuck in a perpetual winter…
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“She has made an enchantment over the whole country so that it is always winter here and never Christmas. How awful is that! ” ~Lucy, to her siblings in the book, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Can you imagine a world where it was always winter but never Christmas? What a horrible thought. When Lucy first visits Narnia it’s under the curse of the White Witch. Therefore, Narnia is a world that is in slavery and oppression to the White Witch. It is a world that waits for restoration. Waiting for Aslan to come and destroy the Witch and bring spring. Why is everyone waiting for Aslan to come? There are old Narnian prophesies which speak of the coming of Aslan! Mr. Beaver shares one of them with the children in chapter 8,
“Wrong will be right, when Aslan come in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.”
Let’s jump to another world quickly. This world is our own world 2,000 years ago, a time where just like Narnia, there was no such thing as Christmas. The people of Israel have been in its own time of continuous winter. Maybe not physically but metaphorically. The world is dark and being held to the Law of God. No matter how hard anyone tries, they never meet its standards. Everyone is broken knowing they have fallen short of what God created them to be. Consequently, Satan has taken over. The promised Light of the World has not yet come. People are waiting to be ransomed from Satan’s power over their lives. The world is filled with darkness and is cold. Kind of like an unending winter.
Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of Law….the Scriptures declare that the whole world is a prisoner to sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. ~Galatians 3:10, 22-23
Israel has its own set of prophecies of a Messiah. The Redeemer will come to abolish the current curse on the world and bring light, hope, and freedom. The most common prophecy is from Isaiah. It was prophesied about 700 years before Jesus’ birth.
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadows of death a light has dawned. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~Isaiah 9:1-2
Narnia has been in a never ending winter for over 100 years. Everyone is slaves to the evil White Witch. Israel has been waiting for thousands of years for the Messiah, stuck in a world where everyone is slaves to sin and Satan is the ruling king. Both these worlds are waiting for hope. Yet, I have a feeling that the long season of waiting is about to come to an end. Aslan and the Messiah are on the move. Yes, I do believe, Hope is coming to these two worlds.
I guess we will find out for sure on Saturday December 18th….
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