2005 Narnia Advent Series – “Narnia: Enter like Children”
Luke 18:15-17
Sermon preached at Curwensville Presbyterian Church – December 18, 2005

Prayer Introduction: The sermons throughout December have been a little different by looking at the Christian truths illustrated in the C.S. Lewis book, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe – which has been made into a great movie. I have mentioned that it doesn’t matter to me whether or not you see the movie. I am hoping that you read the book – and most importantly that you embrace the biblical truths that are illustrated in this book. I have also mentioned that it is possible to understand these sermons even if you haven’t read the book; but, obviously, reading the book will greatly enhance your understanding of it as an illustration.

The sermon this morning is going to be really different. Sometimes I am going to speak to the adults; but sometimes I am going to speak to the kids. If you aren’t sure whether you fit into the adult or the children category, here is a quick test. If you pay taxes and mortgage or rent then you are an adult.

I suppose it’s providential that I turned 36 years old this past Friday. I’ve been telling people that I turned 18 for the second time, which means I’ve now been an adult as long as I had been a kid. Although I continue to affirm the toy store jingle, “I don’t want to grow up; I’m a Toys R Us kid.”

Our Scripture passage this morning celebrates being a kid. We will look at Luke 18:15-17 and see it illustrated in the children of Narnia. Before we do, let’s pray…We pray now for the preacher in the pulpit. He is not worthy, but by your grace he is able. And so it is through Jesus Christ that we pray – Amen!

Sermon Introduction

Your green insert contains the quotations from the book, as well as the Scriptures, to which I will refer – but first turn to Luke 18:15-17 in your Bible. READ Luke 18:15-17. This morning I would have you see how the story illustrates the truth of Luke 18:15-17 in the way children Play, Obey, Forgive and Live.

I. Play

The first thing I would have you see is the way children play. Let me talk to the children for a moment. You all love to play don’t you? When you come home from school you drop your coat and backpack (usually in the middle of a floor somewhere) and go play. Have you noticed what parents do when they come home from work? They work at home. Of course the first thing they do is to pick up your coat and backpack and put them where they belong.

            When you wake up in the morning you want to play. When you are at school you want to play. When you are at home you want to play. When you are at gram and pap’s you want to play. When you are church you want to play. You love to play.

            In the book The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe it was the children’s love for play – finding a way to have a fun on a miserable rainy day – that resulted in discovering the magical world of Narnia through the wardrobe.

            Now let me talk to the adults for a moment. Do you remember what it was to play? Remember getting all of your work done and then just playing? The problem now is that we never get our work done, do we? Guess what, we will never get our work done; but we still need to play. That, by the way, is the purpose in having a Sabbath Day rest. God commanded one day in seven as a day set apart for fun – worshiping with the church and with the family. God knows we need it. The Bible says, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). Taking Sunday off to “play” with the church and with family is God’s gift to busy adults.

            When Jesus says that we need to receive the kingdom of God like a little child, he also means that we need to realize that we do not get to heaven by our work. Indeed, Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Taking one day off a week from work – and taking time regularly to play with our kids – reminds us that we receive heaven by God’s gift and not by our works.

            Let me talk to the kids again. Would you like to have your parents spend more time playing with you? Then here’s what you need to do – help out around the house. Talk to your mom and dad about things that you can do to help them so that they have more time to play with you.

            Now parents, you need to help your children help you – and you need to make a commitment to spend time regularly playing with your kids. And keep in mind that I can’t preach this to you until I’ve preached it to myself first – and since I have three girls this means I have to play more Barbie. If I can do that, then you can certainly make the time to play with your kids too.

Leave the housework for another day. Let your kids, or your grandkids, or someone else’s kids if need be, teach you how to have fun again. Who knows what worlds they may help you to discover.

II. Obey

Not only would I have you see the way children play, but also the way children obey. Sometimes we must obey without fully understanding.

In Chapter 13 (entitled: Deep Magic from the Dawn of Time) the White Witch arrives to state her claim on Edmund’s life because of his betrayal against his brother and sisters. Killing him was her right based on the Deep Magic of Narnia, and so Susan says to Aslan – “Can’t we do something about the Deep Magic? Isn’t there something you can work against it?” “Work against the Emperor’s Magic?” said Aslan, turning to her with something like a frown on his face. And nobody ever made that suggestion to him again. Edmund was on the side of Aslan, looking all the time at Aslan’s face. He felt a choking feeling and wondered if he ought to say something; but a moment later he felt that he was not expected to do anything except to wait, and do what he was told. “Fall back, all of you,” said Aslan, “and I will talk to the Witch alone.” They all obeyed.

Throughout the story anytime Aslan spoke everyone obeyed. They didn’t understand, but they obeyed – and they came to understand in the end.

Kids, how many times do your parents say to you, “Just do what I say?” Lots and lots, right? And you do well to obey. The 5^th Commandment tells you – “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you” (Deuteronomy 5:16). And when they tell you to do something the right answer is always, “Yes mommy. Yes daddy.” You honor your parents and you honor God by doing what they say, even when you don’t fully understand why they are asking you to do it.

Parents, we – like our children – need to obey even when we don’t understand. When our heavenly Father tells us to do something, we should obey even if we don’t fully understand. In Jeremiah 7:23 the Lord says, “Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.”

            Did you notice how similar that is to the 5^th Commandment? We are to obey God so that it may go well with us. Just as children must obey their parents so that it may go well with them.

            Do you want things to go well for you? Kids, when things are not going well for you – take a moment and see if it is because you have not been honoring and obeying your father and mother.

            Adults, when things are not going well for you – take a moment and see if it is because you have not been honoring and obeying your Heavenly Father.

            When Jesus says that we need to receive the kingdom of God like a little child, he first says, “Let the children come to me.” In order to receive the kingdom of God we must first go to Jesus – committing to obey him as Lord of our life.

III. Forgive

Not only would I have you see the way children play and obey, I would also have you see the way children forgive. In Chapter 2 (entitled: What Lucy Found There) the youngest of the Pevensie children, Lucy, meets Mr. Tumnus the faun who invites her over to his house where he serves her a wonderful meal and plays a tune on his flute. He later confesses that it was his intention to cause her to fall asleep and then bring her to the White Witch. Realizing he shouldn’t do this he says – “Can you ever forgive me for what I meant to do?” “Why of course I can,” said Lucy, shaking him heartily by the hand.

            Whenever someone asks if you can forgive them, your answer should be like Lucy, “Why of course I can.” Christians can forgive, because we know how profoundly we are forgiven through Jesus Christ.

            In Chapter 13, when Edmund returned after betraying his brother and sisters, Aslan said – “Here is your brother, and – there is no need to talk to him about what is past.” Edmund shook hands with each of the others and said to each of them in turn, “I’m sorry,” and everyone said, “That’s all right.” And then everyone wanted very hard to say something which would make it quite clear that they were all friends with him again – something ordinary and natural – and of course no one would think of anything in the world to say.

As we get older we shouldn’t lose our ability to forgive; rather, we should gain the words to say that will make forgiveness clear. In fact, these are the words in response to someone saying, “I’m sorry” – “I forgive you.” Not, “It’s okay” because what they did is not okay; but “I forgive you. I choose never to mention it again.”

Aslan says that there is no need to dredge up the past once it has been forgiven. In Jeremiah 31:34b God says, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

We are called to do the same thing. We must tell a person that they are forgiven and that we will remember the sin no more. We won’t bring it up to them. We won’t bring it up to others. We won’t even allow it to return to our own minds. When Satan tries to bring it up we will cast it back out. We will remember the Lord’s prayer, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.”

Kids, if you do something that isn’t nice you need to say, “I’m sorry.” And if someone who was mean to you says, “I’m sorry” than you need to say to them, “I forgive you.” Be especially like Lucy who was so ready to forgive.

Adults, do you have someone who has been mean to you? Do you have a family member, a friend, a co-worker who stabbed you in the back? Do not wait for them to come to you – the Scriptures (in Matthew 18) call you to go to them that you may be reconciled with one another by the power of God.

Jesus says that we need to receive the kingdom of God like a little child – we need to receive the forgiveness of God through Jesus’ death and resurrection – and we need to extend that forgiveness to others.

IV. Live

And so, not only would I have you see the way children play and obey, but also the way children forgive and live.

Let me read to you the dedication in the front of the book – “To Lucy Barfield. My Dear Lucy, I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand a word you say, but I shall still be your affectionate Godfather, C.S. Lewis.”

            Where are you in your life right now?

To the kids do you still love life and love fairy tales?

To the teenagers are you too cool for fairy tales?

To the adults are you too old and grumpy for fairy tales? What about when the story is real? Grow up and become like children again. Discover the joy that comes from abundant life in Christ.

In John 10:10 Jesus says – “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

            And 1 Peter 1:8-9 says, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

            Are you filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy? May you enter the kingdom of God like little children – full of enthusiasm and joy. The kingdom has come.

MAY THE TRUTH SET YOU FREE – AMEN!