He's Not Safe......

(Part one of my musings on the Goodness of God)

“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you. - from "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis.

This is one of my absolute favorite quotes. For those of you reading this who many not know, C.S. Lewis wrote the Chronicles of Narnia books as an allegory about Jesus. Aslan represents Jesus. (Random fact, aslan means lion in Turkish).  What a beautiful and true thing to say about Jesus/God. Of course He isn't safe. But He is good!!! 

I've often heard people say that the safest place to be is in the center of God's will. I whole-heartedly disagree. I suppose this is true if you are talking about spiritual safety, but in other regards (physical and emotional) I believe the opposite is true. It is my opinion that the center of God's will is actually the most dangerous place to be.  Think about it... which is the most physically safe option: To live in the U.S., work in an office, attend church every Sunday and go about your life in whatever way you please the rest of the week; or to live in a closed country such as Jordan and preach the gospel to any who will listen, worship Jesus publicly outside of a mosque (I recently heard an incredible story of a woman who did just that), and completely give up your own desires and comforts for the sake of making Jesus known in a place so hostile to the gospel?

The former life carries no risk. There is no significant possibility that anyone will try to harm you for what you believe, you can attend worship services in a large building specifically erected for that purpose with no fear of reprisal, you need not sacrifice anything. The latter, however, is dangerous every moment of every day. You risk being imprisoned, beaten, and killed every time you speak out. You must be willing to sacrifice everything. 

Now, do not mistake me here. I am not saying that no one who lives in the U.S., works and office job, and attends church on weekends, is living in God's will. The operative sentence in that example was "go about your life in whatever way you please the rest of the week." I am referring to those who attend religious services but do not live out the Gospel in their everyday life, who have not put to death the desires of the flesh. 

God calls us into danger. Jesus never promised us comfort and safety. In fact, He promised the very opposite. In John 15 he says: "If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you."  In John 16 He says: "In the world you will have tribulation."  Jesus promises persecution and tribulation. If we are to take Him at His word, then we must believe that if we are to truly become followers of Christ, things will not be easy for us but rather difficult and wrought with trials and pain. The Greek word translated as persecution means: 1) a pressing, pressing together, pressure

2) metaph. oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits

So then, is God safe? By no means!