My sister and I read C.S. Lewis’ Narnia series over the summer. (If you haven’t read them all recently, do it!) There are so many beautiful and striking parallels to both the Christian experience generally and these specific times. However, I want to spend some time on my two favourite quotes from the series.

1. “Safe?” said Mr Beaver …”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

The safety of Jesus.

What does it look like to have a safe Father? I think this question is often misunderstood. However, I think Corrie Ten Boom understood it almost perfectly when she wrote:

“There are no ‘if’s’ in God’s world. And no places that are safer than other places. The center of His will is our only safety – let us pray that we may always know it!”

Corrie Ten Boom, The Hiding Place

This quote comes from a point in the book in which Corrie has just narrowly avoided a violent death, as a metal shard came flying through the window onto her pillow whilst she went downstairs for a few minutes. I think this quote is actually Corrie quoting what her sister, Betsie (the-overflowing-with-faith hero), said to her in response to Corrie’s shock at nearly dying.

This is so beautiful in the context of the Ten Boom sister’s story. (Again, if you haven’t read it, do!) The revelation that the ‘only safe place is in His will’ became an anthem for them throughout their lives. But their lives were far from safe. They sheltered and hid Jews during WW11, and were dragged off to various concentration camps where they experienced unthinkable horrors. Bestie even died in the concentration camp.

You may observe, “Their lives following Jesus were far from safe.” And, from an earthly perspective, you would be right. But Corrie and Betsie didn’t have an earthly perspective, they had a heavenly one. They knew that Jesus was working all they saw and went through for their good and His will. Even if it meant suffering and dying at the cruel hands of Nazis. They knew Who their safe place was and where they were going.

You see, from a heavenly perspective, they were always safe. Jesus was always holding them and knew exactly what He was doing.

This is what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego understood so well when they were threatened with a fiery death. The natural consequences of faithfulness are incomparable with the reward of a pleased King and Father.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 NKJV

We need to know this now more than ever, and we need to increasingly know it! That as diseases, natural disasters, corrupt goverments, unfaithful friends and dark times threaten to steal our peace, we have a good, kind and powerful Father who will hold us through it all. He knows what He’s doing. If we’re safe and comfortable in our homes, He is good. If we’re ill and dying, He is good. If we’re in prison, He is good. If we’re suffering unspeakable torment for Him, He is good. Let it sink down that there is nothing that is worthy of our fear apart from Him. And fearing Him is the most fearless and free place to be.

I won’t stop saying that even death itself is a victory for those in Jesus. Let’s live like it.

2. “He’s not a tame lion.”

Whew. This quote has so much depth! It is an anthem repeated throughout the series that was intitally uttered in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe to Lucy to help her understand his character. However, in The Last Battle, this anthem is repeated, but it’s now a phrase used to doubt and question his character. Many generations of Narnians have lived since the time of Queen Lucy or any other character who had a personal relationship with Alsan and trouble comes to Narnia. *Spoiler* A villain has dressed a naive animal in lion skins, and is pretending that it is Aslan Himself. The manipulative villain begins to tell Narnians that Aslan has commanded them to do all kinds of questionable and outright evil things. In light of this, many Narnians are very confused. They always thought Aslan was a good king and lion, but now he was apparently an evil dictator. They reasoned amongst themselves, “He’s not a tame lion.” And all of a sudden, a phrase that once spoke of his power and wonder was spoken to mean that he was too fearful and wild to be good and trusted. Amongst other adventures, this all leads to Narnia in utter chaos and many Narnians completely lose hope and tragically reject King Aslan.

There are so many incredible Biblical narratives going on in this book, but the one that I want to touch on, and that I believe C.S. Lewis was referencing, was this: The Tribulation

For those of us who know our Bibles and prophecy, we know that the Tribulation is a time of struggle that will come upon the Earth in which horrors and evil that this world has never seen will come and will all end in the returning of our King Jesus and the ushering in of His millennial reign.

What I believe Lewis was touching on was this: the Pre, Mid, Post Trib question. I don’t know if you’ve ever spent time studying theology or have been in a debate around this subject. But, if you have, you most likely came away confused and frustrated and, hopefully, saying, “Well, it doesn’t matter, anyway. I know where I’m going.”

While this is a faithful statement based on the true confidence of salvation, I contend that it does matter. The Bible speaks of revival and falling away happening in the tension before and during the Tribulation, and I believe much of it will center around the battle for understanding the character of Jesus.

In an FAI Bible study video hosted by Dalton Thomas earlier this year, he spoke on this subject and urged Christians to dig into God’s Word for the answer. Despite popular belief, the Bible is very clear on this point: the church will not be raptured before or during the Tribulation. There is so much the Bible has to say about this, and I encourage you to watch the FAI video “We will be radiant and ready, not raptured and removed.” on YouTube. However, I just want to quickly focus on the importance of knowing the character of Jesus.

In The Last Battle, because so many Narnians didn’t know Aslan’s character personally, when the first sign of real trouble came, they quickly doubted that he was ever good. That, friends, is exactly what will happen to people, including Christians, who don’t know Jesus personally when the Tribulation starts. Many, many Christians have been promised that safety in Jesus looks like being removed from the worst hardships. And it’s the Christians who have bought this lie who will question, when trouble comes to their door, if Jesus was even ever good. Many, friends, will reject Him completely because they never actually knew Him.

We can already see the evidence of this in play, from both perspectives. For those who know their God, when trouble comes knocking in their door, they say Jesus is worthy of this too. I think of the persecuted and abused women of the Middle East who endure unthinkable torture at the hands of evil men, but who hold on to Jesus all the more. I also think of many Western Christians who, when disease or financial ruin threaten them, turn their back on God for being unfair and unkind.

This is why knowing the character of Jesus and His response to our sufferings is so important. It is not in the nature of Jesus to leave or abandon. However, this is exactly what He would be doing if He raptured the church in the earth’s greatest time of need. The Christian presence on Earth will be powerful, glorious and faithful during the tribulation. Many of us will lose our lives in unthinkable ways for simply being faithful, but as the Ten Boom sisters understood, it will all be a part of our glorious and kind Father’s plan. He is so much better than we know.

“…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

Jesus will never ask us to do anything that He isn’t right there with us in or that He doesn’t have a glorious plan for. Friends, this time is a gift. Get to know Jesus in this season. Fill your lamps with the oil of intimacy and rejoice in all seasons that our Jesus is good, wise and kind. It all has purpose. We have nothing to fear. Let’s be like Jesus and face death and suffering with JOY. And let’s love others fearlessly. I believe neighbours and kings will come to know Jesus as we live relentlessly faithful lives.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 NKJV

Maranatha and much love.