Defeat. . .or is it?

This illustration comes from the works of my favourite author, C.S. Lewis. His book and recently-made movie The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe holds many spiritual truths for those who care to look deeper than the surface. Perhaps later posts will speak on these topics further. But for the time being, I will concentrate on one in particular.

All throughout the book, Jadis—the White Witch—is attacking the Narnians and turning them into stone. Her castle courtyard is full of the stone statues of her enemies, ranging from those “little” threats like mice and fauns all the way to giants, jaguars, and even a lion. She stops at nothing to deplete the loyalist army.

Likewise, Satan—depicted by Lewis as Jadis—will stop at nothing to deplete God’s holy army. The devil will take whatever victory he can get: those with little faith, but his biggest prize is a giant of the faith; he delights in overcoming an enemy as great as a lion. His courtyard is full of these trophies he’s won. All the while he goes along, snarling and attacking, thinking he is making progress in his fight against God. After all, his courtyard is filling up with proof of his success!

But Satan is too cocky. He believes that he is doing himself good by these actions. Alas, as I have said before, he is blinded by his arrogance and cannot see the slaughter he is creating for himself. Jesus will come and breathe on you when you feel defeated, and He will restore life to you as Aslan did to those Jadis had captured.

This was her critical error: turning all those creatures to stone. For when the High King returned, He breathed back to life an army. Combined with Peter’s army, they were too strong to be defeated. Jadis’ fall was inevitable, simply because she inadvertently created an army behind her back. The same goes for Satan—though he thinks he is depleting the enemy’s army, he is really only strengthening it. Those imprisoned will have even more energy and resolve for victory. And they will follow their High King to the ends of the earth, victorious in the end.