Statues

In the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis introduces us to four children who find their way into an amazing land through the back of a wardrobe closet in an uncle’s house. The kids, two boys and two girls, enter this magical land called Narnia. It has towering mountains and rich, deep forests. And remarkable beasts—all of whom can speak. But the land is covered with snow, cursed by perpetual winter.

Lewis also introduces us to a wicked queen. She is a usurper to the throne. She is a witch who is empowered with extraordinary gifts. She holds Narnia under her spell for this curse of

never-ending winter. Then we’re introduced to a lion. He comes from beyond Narnia and beyond time. This lion is Christ. The lion lays down his life for Narnia, dies on a stone table, and then rises from the dead more glorious and majestic than ever. Then he acts to reverse the effects of the curse upon Narnia. Wherever he goes, the effects of the curse are reversed. You know he is near because the trees start to thaw and the crocuses bud and bloom, and the flower begin to break through the surface of the snow. Toward the end of the story, Aslan walks into a courtyard strewn with stone statues. These statues were creatures that had been turned to stone by the curse of the wicked witch. But then Aslan lowers his regal head near it, and breathes on it. As the breath of the lion touches the stone, the stone ripples into flesh. His breath fills the lungs of those who were once stone. And they wake up and begin to sing and dance and shout the glories of Aslan, the glories of Christ.

This is a picture of our life without Christ and with Christ. Without Christ, we are like petrified statues, lifeless and dead. But when Christ comes into our lives, he infuses new life into us through His Holy Spirit. John 20 records an appearance of Jesus to the disciples after his resurrection. He enters the room and says, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit…”

(John 20:21-22a).

Let Christ breathe new life into you today. Ask Him to fill you anew with the Holy Spirit. Receive the blessing of the rarified air of His grace.