As you rub your eyes the haze around you fades into sharp focus. You feel as Dorothy must have felt when she woke up in a land of lollipops and roses. But it’s different. You’ve been captured; transferred from the kingdom that you loved and placed into a foreign kingdom.
Your eyes are having a terrible time adjusting to the brightness. You are certain to die here in this new kingdom. You aren’t even sure that you fit in but something within you is strangely drawn. Hoping that maybe there will be a place for you in this kingdom—and not just as one to be paraded around the kingdom as a conquered foe. There is a beauty here that wasn’t present in your old land. And you’ve got a strange warmth in your chest. An eerie feeling of affection for those around you and for the new King.
Life in the New Kingdom
The day arrives and you meet your new King. Just one site of Him has you questioning everything that you once believed and held dear. You soon realize that everything in the old kingdom was but a farce. You had thought you were living large and free to go and do what you pleased. Little did you know that your old king was a ruthless tyrant that had enslaved you and your people. Things weren’t good there. You only thought they were.
As the King introduces you to His kingdom he explains that for you to fully enjoy His new kingdom you’ll need to be re-educated. You’ve spent so long in the old kingdom that your taste buds crave gravel instead of the finest steak. There is no way you can enjoy this terrific land with a heart so confused. The King explains that it will be a painful process, but one that will end in delight. It’s also not optional. Every person in His kingdom will be made new.
The King also explains that you are free to traverse anywhere that you desire. Even, if you should foolishly desire to trek into the land of darkness, you are free to go. But your safety, delight, and growth will be found in His kingdom and not the other kingdom. Growth will happen through pain when you trek outside the walls of His kingdom.
You happily nod, wondering how in the world you could ever think of going back into that pitiable land of darkness.
Days turn into weeks and you find yourself loving the King’s land. You find yourself drawn to one of her chief cities, the land of Logos. Here you study the King’s book. Learning about His greatness and all of his ways. It also teaches you about yourself. It tells your story, that of a minor character, as it ultimately tells His.
In the same way the land of Prayer feels so natural. You delight to travel into the land of Community. It’s not a burden but a blessing to be surrounded by so many others that have been transferred into this kingdom and are being transformed into the image of the King. It’s with great delight that you make frequent trips to the Table of the Lord. A marvelous place that testifies to the greatness of the King and His rescue mission. You love this kingdom and wonder how you could ever feel a lust for the shadows.
And then it happens…
The darkness starts to call out your name. You’ve been enjoying the King’s grace for a good season now. You feel so strong. So different. So confident.
And so you slowly set foot in darkness. Your first journey is into the land of Independence. And as you set foot there you begin to rationalize. “It’s all his anyways. I read that in the King’s book. He even owns the darkness. I’m an eternal citizen in His kingdom. I’ll be okay. I’m strong enough now to endure the land of Independence. I’ll eventually get back to Logos…”
Soon enough you find yourself in Sloth. You float down the river Drift and finally land in the realm of Comfort. It doesn’t seem so bad. No more tedious reading in the land of Logos. No people in Community being all up in your business. No more of that pain of being transformed in the King’s land. Here in the land of Comfort you can have it all as you want.
You can’t stay here though. You were made for another land. The land of Comfort soon leaves you with a painful ache. You don’t blame the darkness, though. You blame the King. You are angry because he has withdrawn the security, love, and delight that you had grown so accustomed to. You are angry because He doesn’t extend delight beyond His borders.
You realize that it is only in His kingdom that you’ll be at home. And so you do what must be done…you start the journey back. But it’s not as easy as you thought. The river Drift flows quickly only one way. You’ll have to paddle against the tide now. You will be screaming to just drift back into the land of Comfort. But paddle you must.
And paddle you will, because the King has captivated your heart…
—
I imagine this is somewhat what Richard Sibbes had in mind when he said this:
We are only safe when we wisely make use of all good advantages that we have access to. By going out of God’s ways we go out of his government, and so lose our good frame of mind, and find ourselves overspread quickly with a contrary disposition. When we draw near to Christ (James 4:8), in his ordinances, he draws near to us. (The Bruised Reed, 104)
*Image source http://farm1.staticflickr.com/100/254089604_8bbf64e1bd_o.jpg
