When reading through the “Chronicles of Narnia” series by
C.S. Lewis, something surprised me. In
the final book, The Last Battle, Susan does not join the rest of the
family in “the real Narnia” (an allegory for heaven) because she is "no
longer a friend of Narnia." In the
storyline Susan, in her early twenties, is "interested in nothing
now-a-days except nylons and lipstick and invitations." Susan (distracted
by her search for a perfect husband, parties, and being a social butterfly)
forgets her childhood adventures and that Aslan (an allegory for God) is real. This is how Polly Plummer (a main character
in the last two books) sums up Susan’s life: "She wasted all her school
time wanting to be the age she is now, and she'll waste all the rest of her
life trying to stay that age. Her whole idea is to race on to the silliest time
of one's life as quick as she can and stop there as long as she can."
It is not difficult to understand Susan’s desire to “race on
to the silliest time of one’s life.” Younger people often dream of the steps in
life that are ahead of them. Whether it be finally getting a driver’s license,
getting their first significant other, getting married, having children, or
career goals, there is a temptation to look toward that next step in life as
the one that will provide the most happiness. While there is nothing wrong in
anticipating new chapters of your life, it must not take away from your current
opportunities to serve God now.
Young people often do not understand how blessed they are
right now with opportunities to do great things in the kingdom of God, but are
so focused on growing up and getting to some magical point in life, that they
overlook their current responsibilities.
Ephesians 5:15-17 says: See then
that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because
the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of
the Lord is. Instead of worrying so much about what you want for yourself
one day in the future, serve God now in the way you can now and trust Him to
hold your future.
Abilities and opportunities change with time. It is not
difficult to see at my own wasted opportunities that add up to years of service
I could have given to God. There was a time in my own life when I was single
and in between jobs when I had a world of opportunity to serve God in ways that
are less possible now. The apostle Paul saw additional opportunities that were
available to him because he was not married. Now that I am a married man, I
have a responsibility to serve God in other ways. Much of my responsibility is
to love my wife as Christ loved the church. Christ’s relationship to the church
should be reflected in my marriage for all of the world to see.
Even now I see that some of my opportunities and abilities
to serve God will change again in the future. Our only son, Joses was
stillborn. Right now, we do not have the responsibility of caring for children.
This allows us to do many things that will be impossible later on in life. I
have always dreamed of being a father, however, if I am consumed with a longing
to being a parent, I may miss current opportunities to serve God now. I am
still a young man and am able to serve in many ways that will be impossible
when I am old. Bodies get frail and weak with time.
Demas forsook Paul because he “loved this present world” (2
Timothy 4:10). Imagine how Demas must
feel now that he is on the other side of eternity knowing he missed an
opportunity to serve God alongside the apostle.
Special opportunities that I have right now will not be there later in
life. I need to redeem the time I have
now instead of worrying or daydreaming about a fantasy future which is out of
my control.
Why do we train ourselves to desire to be a certain age or
condition (married or a parent) instead of living to please God? Special times
in life come and go. Some are not nearly as wonderful as we envision. Those
that are truly wonderful still pass by in the blink of an eye. If you set your
hopes on being a certain age, having a specific job, or being a parent, what
will your mindset be once you pass that age or stage? People often try to live
in the past, dwelling on happy memories, missed opportunities, and times when
they felt useful. When this happens, they often overlook the fact that their
greatest work in the Kingdom of God might still be ahead of them. It does not
matter how old you are, you never know which life you will touch that will
cause a chain reaction of great things.
In the analogies of the last book of the Chronicles of Narnia series, Susan
focuses her life on all the wrong things and forgets that which is the most
important in her life. She neglects her relationship with God and pays the
ultimate price. John Lennon said, "Life is what happens while you're
making other plans." God has a plan for each of us that is far better than
any plan we could come up with. Why not trust in His plan, seek His Kingdom,
and seek His righteousness, and let everything we tend to worry about come to
us in His time? Serve God now in your current circumstance.
I have learned to be
content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble
means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance
I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having
abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens
me. Philippians 4:11-13
by Seth McDonald
