Spoiler Alert:  If you have yet to see the latest tale from Narnia, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and you would prefer to see it for yourself before discovering some of the great lessons, then pick another blog.  If however, the richness of the Chronicles of Narnia will not be lost on you whether you see the movie, read the books, enjoy this blog, or all of the above, then read on.

C.S. Lewis died on the same day that JFK was assassinated, which means that the world took no notice of the passing of one of the great Christian thinkers of the last century.  And maybe that is as it should be.  But there is no doubt that the renewed interest in the most popular works of Lewis' hand is blessing an entirely new generation of movie goers.  One of the reasons that everyone should be such a fan of Lewis is that he is able to take complex, serious, and eternal themes and communicate them in the beauty of stories that were intended for children. 

Like others, I enjoyed the books, saw the first couple of movies and enjoyed the fact that such overt (or at least what was intended to be overt) Christian teachings were receiving popular acclaim.  That does not mean that everyone who saw the movies "got it," but it does mean that the timeless truths of our need and God's provision are being proclaimed in unique and powerful ways.  This latest journey to Narnia is the best of these.  Consider some of the radically moving Biblical themes that appear in the Voyage of the Dawn Treader:

Redemption -- Eustace encounters Aslan.  Perhaps the most annoying character in the movie, one that makes you cringe everytime he speaks, is Eustace.  Eustace is annoying, among other reasons, because he reminds me of me.  Arrogant, know-it-all, uppity, and suffering from "OCD" is Eustace, the cousin of the Pevensies.  He is a foreigner to Narnia and a mocker of loyalty to Aslan.  And yet, one of the most overwhelming scenes in the film is the "conversion" of Eustace as he encounters Aslan for the first time.  Succumbing to his sin, Eustace is transformed into a dragon and realizes the depth of his condition.  Having been wounded and crashing into a sandbar, the dragon Eustace meets Aslan.  Eustace as the dragon tries to scratch his scales off in the presence of Aslan, seeming to want to be freed.  Failing to have the power to change his own condition, Aslan does what Eustace cannot.  Aslan frees him from his condition and gives him back his life, but abundantly.  Eustace recognizes the great blessing he has received.  As he later describes it to the cousins, "It was painful, but the pain was good, like having a thorn removed."  Eustace is never the same once he meets Aslan.

Reconciliation -- Eustace and the Narnian Family.  Having been freed by Aslan, another amazing thing takes place.  Eustace is instantly a Narnian, one of the followers of Aslan, giving his energy towards Aslan's honor.  He is also reconciled to his Pevensie cousins, who at first could not stand to be in the same room with him.  The picture of reconciliation is sweet indeed.  Eustace and the Narnians are now family.  Eustace and the cousins share a relationship with Aslan, and that makes life different than it was before.  This power of reconcilation was perhaps the most poignant moment for me, one who found many brothers and sisters once Christ set me free.

Rest -- Reepicheep and Aslan's Country.  Without a doubt, the last scene is full of wonder if you understand the parallels that Lewis intends.  As Aslan tells Lucy, "I am known by another Name in your world."  This Name is the Name above every name.  As the characters stand outside a wall of water, Aslan invites them to "cross over" into His country, recognizing that once you enter, you are there forever.  I was thinking of our times of worship where we sing about "passing through the waters" or John Bunyan's vision where crossing through the water is the only way to the heavenly city.  But the only taker is Reepicheep, an adventure loving Narnian who is ready to enter in.  As he passes into Aslan's country over the water wall, he leaves his sword, the tool that had been at his side since we met the character a movie ago.  The symbolism of no more war, no more need to fight, of entering into the rest of heaven was palpable.  The fact that heaven is our home and that we will be with our Redeemer face to face is more than we can ask or think.  But imagining it is worth the time spent in contemplation.

Reality -- The Evil Within.  Finally, Lewis wanted his readers to learn about the reality of evil in the world.  And, powerfully, he shows that a source of great evil is our own hearts.  Whether it is Lucy, who wants to be someone else, or Edmund who is struggling with his past sins of serving the Evil One, or Eustace who is covetous and is swallowed up in his appetite for wealth, Lewis is reminding us that our hearts are twisted and that only Christ can help us, the One who has overcome the world, the flesh and the Devil.  You never see the enemy; instead the enemy wihin is manifested in the mist that has enslaved many.  As the Lord Jesus sanctifies us, we are to be reminded that the same grace needed to save us is the same grace needed to battle our sin each day.  May we, like Lucy, call on the Redeemer to help us in our times of need.

It is encouraging to see the popularity of Lewis' tales.  But may we be most encouraged by the reality of being pointed to the sufficiency of the Lord Jesus Christ as he saves His people from their sins.   This is Lewis' great desire, that we would turn to the Christ of the Bible to find our hope in Him, the Lion of Judah.