So, I got to see the new Narnia movie last weekend and there are two things that impacted me greatly...so much so that I can’t seem to get them off my mind. [Don’t worry, for those of you who haven’t seen the movie yet---I won’t ruin it for you, won’t give up the plot or write a summary post of the movie]
Impact #1: Waiting for Aslan!
I found myself, throughout most of the movie, sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for Aslan to return, save the kids and save the day. Since this lion parallels the lion of the tribe of Judah (a/k/a Jesus) my heart was literally beating out of my chest as I anxiously awaited the triumphant moment of his arrival, thinking about how I longed to see Jesus! As the movie progressed, I found myself obsessed with the moment of Aslan’s appearance on the movie screen and was overwhelmed with anticipation. [so much so, that I shushed my sister who was sitting next to me talking a little louder than I deemed necessary! Don't think she liked that too much.] When Aslan finally did show up, and I got to see him again[remembered him from the first movie, but this was his first appearance in this movie!]… all I can say is “WOW” and that I wish I’d had some tissues [my jacket sleeve had to suffice].
As I thought about how much I was looking forward to seeing Aslan again, and how I spent so much time during my movie-watching-experience anxiously awaiting his appearance, I began to ask myself the following questions:
-Am I living my life in anticipation of the return of the King?
-When He does come back, will He find me busy about the Father’s business?
-Will I be doing everything I can do to let people know about Him?
Bottom line: if I do live my life in as much anticipation as I felt during the movie, I should be on a mission – daily. When Jesus comes back, that’s it. I want to be ready and I want those who don’t know Him to come on in to the family before it’s too late.
Impact #2: Wake up, sleeping friends!
When Aslan did show up on the scene, he spent a few moments reconnecting with Lucy and then he helped her to fulfill her mission. She had gone (by herself) deep into the woods to wake up her friends, the trees, who no longer talked, moved or danced because they had retreated so deep into themselves that they were in a deep slumber. Aslan knew Lucy’s mission was to wake up the trees, so he said “now it’s time to wake up your friends” and with a loud roar successfully accomplished the mission. The trees came alive and started moving again. [I’ll stop here with the trees & leave the rest to the movie, again – don’t wanna ruin it for those who haven’t seen the movie yet!] It took Aslan’s power to wake the dead, but it also took Lucy’s step of faith to go to the trees with the message that it is now time to wake up...she was so concerned that they were “asleep” that she took it upon herself to try to go and wake them up.
As I watched the trees uproot and begin to move, I began to think about the people (all my “friends”) who have retreated so deep into themselves that they are not alive in Christ. Either they don't know Him, or they once knew Him but have tuned out His voice and have hardened their hearts without Him.
Bottom Line: It does take Him to wake them up, but it also takes us to care enough about our lost friends to go to them and try to wake them up. All we have to do is to take a step of faith and take the message of Christ to them…and He will do the rest.
Wow, powerful stuff! So what about you…
What are you doing as you anticipate His return?
Are you one of the lost people who is asleep and needs to wake up? Or
Are you going to your lost friends to bring them the message that it’s time to wake up?
BTW, I know the movie was all about "Prince Caspian" but for me, I think the title of the movie should've been "The Return of Aslan!"
P.S. I didn't read the Narnia series as a kid, or as an adult, and now I'm wishing I had!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment