To Meet a Lion

I think we all have a desire to be safe - free from harm, danger, risk, difficulty, hurt, loss, controversy or contradiction. It's probably honestly one of the things I value most in my life, and - I'm realizing - the one thing that I consistently choose over obedience to Christ.

I'm being blatantly confronted with just how much I truly value safety in my life, and how paralyzed I am by unsafety. The possibility of being unsafe quickens me to fear, to anxiety, to negative thinking, and many other self-defeating thoughts. I run away from people who, for one reason or another, have presented themselves unsafe by my standards, and I avoid danger and risk, hurt and loss at whatever cost to my spiritual and emotional growth.

In the midst of these battles, I am reminded of a passage from C.S. Lewis’ children’s book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which tells of the adventures of four children in the magical kingdom of Narnia. Jesus is represented by the lion Aslan. When in Narnia, the children meet Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, who describe the mighty lion to them.

“Is he a man?” asked Lucy.

“Aslan a man!” said Mr. Beaver sternly. Certainly not. I tell you he is King of the wood and the Son of the great emperor-beyond- the-sea. Don’t you know who is the King of the Beasts? Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great lion.”

“Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”

“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver; “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”

“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.

“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.”

It's terrifying to consider giving up my safety in order to approach the throne of the One Who is worthy of my praise. I don't want to lose everything I have. I don't want to risk injury to my physical or emotional being. I don't want to die. I don't want to be made a fool in front of others. I want God to guard me, to guarantee my security, to bless me, to be my personal bodyguard, my Santa Claus, my child's round-the-clock healer and babysitter.

I want the promise of Matthew 6:33 without the sacrifice first required. "Seek Me first, dear one...." And I'm met with the question, "Which do I value and trust more: His eternal goodness or my ephemeral security?"