 |
IN THINKING ABOUT WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE
for Black Rock Church in the coming
months, I recalled a dialogue which takes place between two characters in C.S.
Lewis’ renowned work The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In the tale, the
hospitable pair known as Mr. and Mrs. Beaver inform the children, Peter, Lucy,
Susan and Edmund, that they will take them to see the king, Aslan. The following
dialogue ensues between Susan, Lucy and Mr.and Mrs. Beaver:
Susan inquires with some trepidation: “Is He a man?”
“Aslan, a man?” said Mr. Beaver sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the
King of the Wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know
who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion – the lion, the great lion.”
“ Ooh”, said Susan, “I thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel
rather nervous about meeting a lion.”
“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver; ‘ if there’s anyone
who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than
most, or just silly.”
“ Then he isn’t safe? said Lucy.
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said
anything about safe? Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the king, I tell you.”
In recalling this dialogue, I could not help but think of our church and what
God is doing among us. Is this “ministry expansion” safe? No. Is our God a God
who calls us always to walk forward in a direction which we would call a safe one?
No. Therefore, I cannot help but ask with Susan, ‘Is He safe?’ No… but He’s
good.
It is my heart’s desire that as we embark on this journey together of discovering
what God has for us in the area of “ministry expansion” in the coming
months, that we have this focus corporately – the “Goodness and Faithfulness of
God.”
God has shown Himself faithful in the lives of many here at Black Rock over
the years. He has “wept with those who have wept; and rejoiced with those who
have rejoiced,” showing us that no matter what the circumstance that we have
faced in our lives, ‘His grace is always sufficient for us’ (II Cor. 12:9) and that He
truly is good. I invite you to spend a brief time each morning, over the next 30+
days, recounting with the people of Black Rock the goodness and faithfulness of
God. Each of these readings contains devotional thoughts written by the people of
Black Rock Church as they have spent time reflecting on the faithfulness of God
in their lives in anticipation of how God will be faithful in the future.
Is He safe? Course He’s not safe… but He’s good… He’s the King, I tell you.”
Enjoy the journey . . .
 |
|
 |
|
 |
