In C.S. Lewis’ classic work The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, of the Chronicles of Narnia series, four children (Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy) pass through a wardrobe’s portal into the kingdom of Narnia where Aslan the lion is king. He seems to have abandoned the kingdom which is now under the spell of the wicked White Witch, but there are rumors that “Aslan is on the move,” and is soon to return. The children encounter Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, who are followers of Aslan. Lucy, wanting to know what Aslan is like, asks: “Is He safe?”  Mr. Beaver replies: “Course he isn’t safe, but he is good. He is the king after all!”

     Aslan, of course, is a picture of our Savior and  King, Jesus Christ, who, after His death, burial and resurrection, ascended back to heaven, but promised that one day He would return to take His followers to be with Him and then later to return to reign on earth as “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Jn. 14:1-3; Rev. 19:6). Meanwhile, Satan (pictured by the White Witch) is “the ruler of this world” (Jn. 12:31). 

     So, is our King Jesus safe?  No, but “He is good–all the time!” The Psalmist wrote: “O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him…O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting…You are good and do good…” (Psa. 34:8; 106:1; 119:68). Someone once came to Jesus and asked Him, ” ‘Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?’  And He said to him, ‘Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good…’ ” (Mt. 19:16,17). 

     Yes, God is good!  But He is not “safe,” in that He will take us out of our comfort zone so that we can learn to depend upon Him and not ourselves. We tend to just become comfortable where we are and not want to step out in faith and take risks. Many who profess to be Jesus’ followers would rather that He just leave them alone. They don’t want their lives disrupted. But, when Jesus comes into our lives, He The Apostle Paul tells us that “If any man is in Christ, He is a new creature, the old things passed plans not just to do some “remodeling,” but to do a complete “makeover.”  away; behold new things have come” (II Cor. 5:17). And he challenges us to “walk in (that) newness of life” (Ro. 6:4).  When Jesus called the fisherman to come and follow Him, “they immediately left the nets, and followed Him” (Mt. 4:19,20). Their lives would never be the same. They left what was comfortable to them and stepped out into the unknown and would face many challenges, but Jesus would be with them. When we leave behind our old life to follow Jesus, we too leave our “comfort zone” and enter into the unknown but Jesus has promised to always be with us (Heb. 13:5b).  We will face adversity and attacks from the enemy but “for this we have Jesus”!  Even if we come to a place where “all” we have is Jesus, we find out that He is enough. He is sufficient for any situation.  We discover that “God is our refuge, and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…” (Psa. 46:1-2a). 

     Jesus came, not just that we “might have life“, but that we might have it “abundantly” (Jn. 10:10). Salvation is not just a “ticket to heaven,” but offers us a whole new life of purpose, joy and victory here on earth as well. But that is only experienced by those who are willing to step out of their “comfort zone” and “trust in the Lord with all their heart, and lean not on their own understanding ” (Pr. 3:5).  That means being “all in” for Jesus; not just giving him a part of your life, but letting Him be Lord of your life, “so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything” (Col. 1:18). And, it won’t be comfortable. He will put you in positions where you must fully trust Him. We will have to acknowledge, as did Paul, that we are “not adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God” (II Cor. 3:5). “But in all these things, we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (Ro. 8:37).  

     When I resigned from Hyster Company, where I had been working as an engineer in their corporate office in Portland, Oregon, we instantly went from a comfortable income to no income and needed to raise support. We had two children to care for, but we were confident that God was calling us into a full-time vocational ministry serving Him. That was very uncomfortable, scary and exciting!  We became missionaries working with Rocky Mountain Bible Mission in western Montana (where we grew up). I was an understudy to my father-in-law who had joined RMBM after retiring as a pastor. I had a couple Bible studies and youth groups and Kathy was helping her mom with children’s classes. One of my father-in-law’s Bible studies had grown to the point where they decided to start “Three Lakes Community Bible Church.” But he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia and within a few months passed away, just as we were pouring the foundation for the church. Well, “by default,” I (a “recycled engineer”) became the pastor!  Talk about stepping out of your comfort zone!  But, PTL, God is always faithful. For He who calls you will also do it! (I Thes. 5:24).  We were there for nearly 38 wonderful–though sometimes very challenging–years. What a blessing it was to experience God’s working in our midst. We had the privilege of starting a Bible camp, “Elohim Bible Camp and Retreat Center,” and “Three Lakes Christian School.” It meant stepping out in faith and trusting God.   If you stay in your “comfort zone” because you don’t want God to “mess with your life,” you will miss out on so much. You will miss out on the “abundant life” He offers.  Is He safe? No, but He is good–all the time!

Forever His,

Pastor Dave