Tuesday, December 22, 2015

there be dragons here

Today's readings: Zechariah 1:1-21, Revelation 12:1-17, Psalm 140:1-13, Proverbs 30:17

We read of a dragon in Revelation today. Chesterton once said that fairy tales are important because they not only teach children that dragons exist, but that they can be beaten.

What does this mean? The Bible we depend on to teach us truth is talking about dragons of all things. Are we to believe that dragons are real?

Buechner tells us that the Gospel can come to us as fairy tale. This doesn't mean it isn't true. It means it is very VERY true, and just because it might not literally happen doesn't mean its truth doesn't teach us what life is about.

CS Lewis says that the story of Jesus is a myth... but it just happens to be a myth that really happened.

The important thing, especially this time of year, is not to get caught up in the details. It's really not important whether Jesus was born on December 25 or on some other day. It really isn't the point of our story whether Satan is literally a snake or a dragon... or just a spirit that acts like those things.

The point is, the enemy is real. He is powerful and very smart. But he has already been defeated. He rages against us, the children of God, and will try very hard to destroy us. But greater is He who is in us than that dragon in the world.

We should be wary. Keep up our guard against our ancient foe. But we should not be afraid. In the world we will have troubles, that old dragon will see to it. But our God has overcome the world.

Thank You, God, for being bigger than the details, and for defeating our ancient enemy and bringing us to eternal life.