Hearts of brave knights and heroic courage

Most of the people must be familiar with C. S. Lewis's Narnia books. They are part of the popular culture, with different movie versions, and also classic children's book.

In the first book written in the series, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe four ordinary children are thrown into a magical world of talking animals, dancing trees, fauns, witches, monsters and minotaurs; the mythical good and evil.

The children, brothers and sisters, two girls and two boys, find themselves standing in snow filled Narnia with barely nothing, just the clothes on them and, luckily, the fur coats they found stumbling through the magical wardrobe.

In this new world they must ally with loyal and good animals, fight evil magic and horrible monsters. Armed with a pair of swords, a bow and arrows, and their courage and intelligence.

Since it is so likely that (children) will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have hearts of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker. - C. S. Lewis

C. S. Lewis talks about the situation where he put his characters and tell us: "Since it is so likely that (children) will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have hearts of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker".

Luckily the children are not alone. In Narnia, or beyond the Great Western Sea, lives Aslan, the Lion, who saves Narnians and the children, by giving his life for them as a sacrifice. This way he fulfills the Great Magic from before time. And since he is an innocent victims, without sin, he can conquer the death itself and come back to save everyone from the White Witch's clutches.

This is of course an allegory, an imaginary story that represents real events, of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Just like in Narnia, in real life, Jesus was an innocent sacrifice, given so we could be saved. And because He was innocent and without sin, Jesus could conquer death and come back to us.

It says in 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 - “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (NIV).

The children in Narnia give themselves "fully to the work of Lord". Even with the threats that it represents to their lives they fight for the good, the Narnia and Narnians.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 - “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (NIV)

You may say, well, it's easy for them. C. S. Lewis made them courageous, with hearts of brave knights!

The truth is that God has given us a courageous heart also, and heroic courage. We can be true heroes in the mythical fight for the good, against the bad.

The problem is, it doesn't feel as heroic when it happens in "real" life. Because here the fight consists in not gossiping, instead of letting the arrows fly against the horrible enemy.

It may mean, instead of killing a minotaur, not going out with your friends on Sunday but attending the service in your local church.

It can be as glamorous as, instead of a sword fight with the head of the wolf secret police, helping the elderly in your community.

Charles Spurgeon says “Must is a hard nut to crack, but it has a sweet kernel.”

Must is a hard nut to crack, but it has a sweet kernel. Charles Spurgeon

Maybe it would help from time to time imagine ourselves as knights in a shining armor, with swords in our hands, or if you prefer, lithe elvish knights armed with bows and arrows.

Because we are part of God's army, eradicating the evil from the universe.

If you enjoyed this post about C. S. Lewis's Narnia, you might also like another post about his work, here.

Maybe you would like to read the Narnia series. Amazon has them all with a great prize.



You can get the movies from them also.