Over the past few months, my husband has been rereading the Chronicles of Narnia book series by C.S. Lewis. Occasionally, he will read a passage or chapter out loud to me. One of these passages pierced my heart as he read it and continues to swirl in my mind.
To set the scene, the small band of loyal followers of Aslan have finally reached Aslan’s country after the evil enemy had been defeated. They could hardly describe the goodness of what they saw upon entering. What they tasted upon eating made “the nicest things in the world taste like medicine in comparison.” Although they had reached this beautiful destination, Lucy notices the dwarfs who had chosen not to believe in Aslan were not too far off. One of Lucy’s brothers says to leave them alone, but in compassion, she leads the group to approach them with hopes of trying once again to become their friend. Upon reaching them, the group finds that the dwarfs are blind. All they seem to see is darkness despite the light and beauty around them.
Soon after this interaction, Aslan enters the scene. C.S. Lewis writes:
“The sweet air suddenly grew sweeter. A brightness flashed behind them. All turned. Tirian turned last because he was afraid. There stood his heart’s desire, huge and real, the golden Lion, Aslan himself, and already the others were kneeling in a circle round his forepaws and burying their hands and faces in his mane as he stooped his great head to touch them…” (pg 181).
Lucy asks Aslan through her tears if there is anything that can be done for the dwarfs. Her heart breaks for the dwarfs who cannot seem to see the goodness of Aslan whom she follows. First, Aslan roars, but rather than hearing His beautiful voice drawing them in, they hear a vicious roar that leads them to fear. They ultimately choose to ignore it and to stick to themselves. Then, Aslan provides a delicious feast, but they can’t taste the goodness of what has been provided. They see the delicious feast in front of them as rotten food. They eat the feast greedily while complaining about its contents. In fear that the others have found something better, they begin fighting and ultimately waste the feast that was set before them.
This is the image that has been swirling around in my mind over the past few weeks.
The light of Aslan not seen. The voice of Aslan not heeded to. The gifts of Aslan not treasured.
I am reminded of the passage in Psalm 34 where King David challenges the reader to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (v 8). The dwarfs do not taste and do not see Aslan’s goodness just as many people do not taste and see the Lord’s goodness. We who know Christ were once like the dwarfs. Even now, after tasting and seeing the Lord’s goodness, we revert back to these ways at times. Letting our sin cloud how we view and experience God and His provision. We must continue to taste and see the Lord’s goodness to us so that Christ truly is our heart’s desire, as Aslan was for Tirian and the other followers.
So we must not be like the dwarfs. But there is more than just an example to avoid in this story. There is also an example to follow.
Before Aslan enters the scene, Lucy longs for the dwarfs to join them in the joy of Aslan's country. The others don’t seem to care much about the dwarfs and encourage her to leave them alone, but her heart is clearly drawn to them. Even after encountering Aslan and falling at his feet, she asks if there is anything else they can do to help the dwarfs.
Lucy did not simply care for the dwarfs. She knew the goodness and glory they were missing which filled her heart with sorrow. It was not pity. It was deep heartache and compassion that led her to action. She was persistent in her care for them, not content after trying once. Her love for Aslan and understanding of his goodness led to this pursuit of the dwarfs.
What a beautiful example this is to follow.
Are we tasting and seeing the Lord’s goodness in our lives? Is our true heart’s desire Christ himself? Does our love for King Jesus lead us to sorrow on behalf of those who live without Him? And is our pursuit of the lost persistent and driven by love even for those who reject the truth?
May we be like Lucy in our pursuit of the lost. May our love for King Jesus lead us to compassion for those who have yet to taste and see His goodness.
