In the third volume of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia series, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, one of the main characters is a young boy named Eustace. Eustace displayed a thirst for power, but went about getting it in mischievous ways. He would irritate and bully his pears, while ingratiating adult authority figures. In Narnia, Eustace discovers a dead dragon’s treasure trove. Elated, he imagines the power the treasure will give him. He slips on the dead dragon’s gold bracelet and falls asleep. Terrified, he awakes to find out he has turned into a dragon. Lewis writes, “Sleeping on a dragon’s hoard with greed, dragonish thoughts in his heart, he had become a dragon himself.” Eustace had become what he worshiped: a greedy dragon.
What do you worship? The idols of twenty-first century America include wealth, power, fame, relationships, and health. These things need not be bad in themselves. But, when they become our supreme desire, they make us malformed. We turn in on ourselves. Our love becomes a self-love, instead of a love for others.
The Apostle Paul said, “We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:12-18).” Our souls were designed to contemplate the Lord’s glory. In Jesus Christ the veil that inhibited our beholding of God’s glory has been removed. Because of Christ sacrifice to forgive our sin, we can contemplate the Lord’s glory, with unveiled faces.
God’s glory can have a profound impact on us. By beholding God’s glory, God can transform us into who we were always designed to be. It is like a waxing moon. The more of the sun light that is reflected, the fuller and more glorious the moon appears. The moon is not of itself getting brighter. Rather, it is reflecting more of the sun’s light. May the same happen to us, as we behold the Son’s glory. May we be transformed by and reflect his glory more and more in our lives.
Eustace became what he worshiped most. However, instead of finding contentment, he found despair. He had to shift his gaze off himself and look to another to rescue him from his self-inflicted bondage. Aslan, the Christ character in Narnia, alone was able to painfully peal back the scales, so that Eustace could once again become who he was created to be: a little boy. Let us with unveiled faces be transformed by the Lord’s glory.
Looking for more?
Scripture Alone (2 Timothy 3:14-17), The Solas of the Reformation, Part 1
Faith Alone (Romans 3:21-26), Solas of the Reformation, Part 2
Grace Alone (Ephesians 2:1-10), Solas of the Reformation, Part 3
Christ Alone (1 Timothy 2:1-7), Solas of the Reformation, Part 4