For you to fully appreciate CS Lewis & LWW, you must understand something about Narnia. Under all the beauty of its’ peaceful winter scenes...NARNIA is at war! A world in crisis...under siege. Much like our world.
Long ago, Narnia was created by Aslan, the Great Lion. Son of the Great Emperor. But Jadis, the White Witch has invaded Narnia and rules in evil destruction. So in Narnia...It’s always winter and never Christmas.
The whole world is under the control of the evil one.
1 John 5:19 NIV
Today, I want to dig a bit deeper into the spiritual insights CS Lewis has placed within LWW...I think you’ll be amazed how Narnia & our world have so many similar stories. But, warning...today’s study can be a bit frightening...because we’re going to visit the White Castle & look at Jadis, the White Queen of Narnia.
Her name is Jadis. When we meet her in LWW, we don’t meet an evil devil with a pitchfork & pointed tail...
In the middle of the sledge there she was. A great lady, taller than any woman that Edmund had ever seen. She was covered in white fur up to her throat and held a long straight golden wand in her right hand and wore a golden crown on her head. Her face was white - not merely pale, but white like snow or paper or icing-sugar, except for her very red mouth. It was a beautiful face on other respects, but proud and cold and stern. (from LWW)
As we continue to read LWW & CN, we discover that Jadis has used her deceptive powers to come into Narnia & elevate herself to Queen of Narnia. Calling herself a "Daughter of Eve" but indeed there is not one drop of human blood in her (as Mr. Beaver points out). Her rule of Narnia is a sham, but no one has the power to unseat her.
Indeed CS Lewis has created a force of evil in Narnia that has amazing parallels to Satan in our own world.
The Bible refers to the devil as a fallen angel...an agent of light. Scripture portrays Satan as the leader of worship in heaven who took 1/3 of heaven’s angels with him when he fell.
Jadis vs. Satan: Narnia vs. Earth (A comparison)
1. An ancient, supernatural foe.
older than Narnia, long before creation, not from this world.
2. Given access to our world through human activity.
Through human sin & selfishness, the enemy derives abilities to exist in our world. (see Magician’s Nephew)
3. A powerful foe that has vast influence.
The entire world is the devil’s playground.
4. Has deceived many into submission.
A legion of demonic forces follow & obey the darkness
5. Yet limited in power & wisdom & dominion.
Jadis knows a lot of deep magic, but not ALL of the deep magic. From the very beginning, Satan is predestined to fail. The clock is ticking.
As we read LWW, we see that the entrance of Peter, Susan. Edmund & Lucy (2 sons of Adam & 2 daughters of Eve) into Narnia has ignited the war in Narnia to a whole new level. Edmund, on his first trip into Narnia meets Jadis and in her deceptive ways, she lures Edmund into believing that she is "good". The web of deception she weaves over Edmund is indeed intriguing. The web of deception Satan tries to weave over us in intriguing indeed...
James 1:14-15
Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
FIVE TRUTHS FOR ‘THE EDMUND INSIDE’ US.
1. Evil begins by planting questions & doubts in our minds.
Examples: Satan to Jesus... ‘If you are the Son of God?’ Satan to Eve in the Garden of Eden... ‘Didn’t God say?’
2. Evil comes to us in ‘attractive’ packages.
Forget the picture of Satan with horns, pitchfork & tail!
3. Evil tastes really sweet going down.
Turkish Delight...I want more!
4. Evil produces ‘winter but never Christmas’.
stealing the joy & wonder of life
5. Evil hardens our hearts long before it kills us.
alive but stone hearts
Finally, TRUTH # 6
Evil is overcome only through the words & works of Aslan!
Ephesians 6: 10-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
PRAYER
