I am now reading back through the Chronicles of Narnia with my younger children. No matter how many times I re-read these stories it is a gospel-rich joy. It is fun to share the wonder with my children to whom it is new and to be caught up in the stories again.
Recently we read the section where the White Witch lays her claim on Edmund’s life because he is a traitor. It becomes clear to everyone that she has a real claim, and this eventually leads to much fear and worry. However, C. S. Lewis’s description of Edmund at this moment is a powerful portrayal of gospel security. While the Witch is talking about her claim on a traitor and everyone is thinking of Edmund, Lewis writes:
“But Edmund had got past thinking about himself after all he’d been through and after the talk he’d had that morning. He just went on looking at Aslan. It didn’t seem to matter what the Witch said.”
The accuser is there making it clear she has a right to execute him, but Edmund is unperturbed because he keeps his eyes fixed on Aslan. Of course, ‘the talk he’d had that morning’ was with Aslan, where he had repented and Aslan had restored him. With the knowledge that Aslan had restored and accepted him, the Witches words, no matter how frightening, mattered not all.
If you’ve read the stories you know Alsan is a picture of Jesus and the Witch represents Satan, our accuser. We need to learn the lesson Edmund learned. So often, when the enemy brings his accusations against us we are flustered and try to defend ourselves. We know that ultimately we are guilty. Our hope lies not in our righteousness but in the work of our Advocate. We must quiet ourselves and let Him speak. If we will set our eyes on Him, then it will not seem to matter what the Accuser says. As we sing:
“When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.”
And the song writer is simply expressing the truths of the book of Hebrews from passages like this one:
since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water (Heb 10:21-22).
Our evil conscience cooperates with the Devil accusing us, saying, “Who are you to draw near to God? I know your sin! I’ve seen your rebellion. You are a worm!” We dare not point to ourselves in defense. Instead, we acknowledge, “I am a worm. But behold the worm’s God!” We must fix our eyes on Jesus trusting in his work and giving no heed to the Accuser.
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Rom 8:33-34)
Yes, I need to remember the lesson of Edmund and keep my eyes fixed on Jesus (Heb 12:1).