A Narnia New Year (2021 New Year's Letter)

Happy New Year!

On New Year's Eve (last day of 2020), I was watching the Disney Chronicles of Narnia movie, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" and there's a point in it where the longtime winter starts thawing and giving way to spring. The Lord spoke to me that there has been a changing of seasons and Aslan (Christ) is ON THE MOVE!!!

I am not some big prophecy wonk, but I'll just tell you that the Lord has been speaking to me over this last year that we are in the latter days of the season of time we have been in for 2000ish years and the next season where the end-times (read: Revelation) stuff starts taking center stage is fast approaching. I'm not prophesying times or anything - I'm just saying that I've been sensing an urgency that I've never felt before.

I believe 2020 was the start of really ushering in this next season and we are moving rapidly down that path. I have no idea what 2021 will bring. What I do know is that this is a time for the Church of Jesus Christ to get real serious and really show and demonstrate Jesus in honesty and power. There is a shakeup occurring and I believe out of what is occurring the Church will be operating in more power. It may also be operating with more persecution (I don't know).

I do know that it's time for all believers to move beyond the superficial and really examine our purpose and call on this planet in 2021.

What has Jesus called you to do? How are you fulfilling it? Have you been holding yourself back out of fear? (of failure, of success, of people's opinions, etc.)
If you're still breathing, there's still purposes for you. I don't care how old you are or what failures you've had in the past, if you're breathing, then it's time to be about the King's business in whatever way you can.

Back to that Narnia movie: If you've seen it or have read the book, you know one of the children in the story (Edmund) betrays his family to "evil"/"devil" (personified by the White Witch). In the movie one of the most beautiful scenes is one with no dialog but we see the lion Aslan (the Christ figure) talking with that child and lovingly dealing with him and restoring him. In the very next scene they join the rest of the family and Aslan tells them something like: "What's done is done - there is no need to speak of what is past." We then see him moving forward in accordance with his true identity, not in bondage to his past. Similarly, if this last year was a year where there were failures, bring those to Jesus, receive His loving restoration and forgiveness, and then see Him lovingly take your hand and move you on. Move forward with Jesus in your true eternal identity in Him!

At the end of the film, Aslan (the Christ figure) anoints/coronates the 4 children as Kings and Queens of Narnia in line with who they really are, complete with crowns being placed on their heads. The same child that previously had betrayed his family (and really Aslan), is coronated by Aslan as king over the "great western wood" as "King Edmund the Just." He's just because he's been justified by Aslan, and Aslan specifies that he has authority in the very same realm where he previously had lived in such defeat (he had to walk through those woods to get to the White Witch's palace).

We also as God's kids and co-heirs with Jesus are ROYALTY. While we will one day fully rule and reign with Him in the way we are really meant to, the truth is that right NOW We have the divine power of God with us and actually partake of His divine nature:

2 Peter 1:3-4 says:

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire." (ESV)

God's divine power has already provided everything we need and through His promises (which are ALWAYS YES in Jesus - see 2 Cor. 1:19-20) - by faith we actually partake in His very divine nature! The divine power of God flows in US! That's pretty cool!!

There's no need to fear 2021 or anything in the future. If we're operating in and with Jesus and in His authority that He graciously allows (tells) us to use, we can face everything with confidence. We've got the DIVINE POWER of God flowing in us! This is not time to shirk back or shrivel up in a corner. It's not time to submit in defeat to ANYTHING! This is time to boldly move forward in faith, shining the LIGHT of Jesus Christ in a darkened, depressing, hopeless world that DESPERATELY needs to see the reality of Jesus.

It's time for the Church of Jesus Christ to ARISE in faith and power and confidence. This isn't about politics - it's about people's souls and eternal destinies and time is getting short. It's not time to get bogged down in the weeds of merely natural thinking. This is time to demonstrate the reality of Jesus and His love to those around us with power and boldness as we live each day by faith (not in fear and anger and isolation).

If you are a believer in Jesus, you are RIGHT NOW seated with Jesus Christ in Heavenly Places (Ephesians 2:6). You've got the power of the King. See that eternal perspective! One ministry leader I recently heard called it living in the "eternal now". I LOVE THAT! Don't live in the past with all its failures. And don't live in the future worried about tomorrow. Live each day in the "eternal now" out of your place as a royal son/daughter of God in the eternal Kingdom of God, operating in the power and authority of Jesus Christ, the One in whom all things (including you) are held together (Colossians 1:16-17).

It's time to stop living as though merely natural things have power over us. We believers have given the devil WAY TOO MUCH authority in our life by subjugating ourselves to his schemes through fear. We're NOT merely natural and we aren't subject to merely natural laws. "For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." (Rom 8:2 ESV). We aren't just natural beings - we are SUPERnatural beings with the divine, dead-raising power of God available to us! (Rom 8:11). But many believers still live as though they've got nothing...and continually cursing themselves and those around them through their pessimistic speech. They certainly are not living as though they actually have power in Jesus.

This is our time, friends. The world (and church) are being shaken. This isn't a time for doom and gloom and despair. It's a time to shine and be bold (not angry, but bold) and really reflect Jesus' love and power and our genuine trust and faith in Him to the dying all around us.

I don't know what 2021 will bring. I do know that I intend to hold tighter than ever to my Savior's hand and that this same Jesus that has been with me through my life will be with me come what may. He's always been faithful and I know He always will.

What about you? Discouraged about what you see around you in the natural?

I would encourage you to lift your gaze and instead of being pessimistic or angry, see the incredible OPPORTUNITY around you. This is a time where there can be great harvest if God's people will rise up.

Nations come, nations go. People come, people go. We're all leaving this planet at some point. The important question is what are we really living for? Are we living just to maintain some natural thing here in time? OR, are we living out of the "eternal now", in our identity as changed people of God living in the eternal Kingdom of God, seeking to draw and help others into this wonderful love relationship with the King of Kings that loves them so much and wants to be with them also for all eternity? Where is our focus?

Lift up your eyes friends, the field is white for the harvest. Go forth in faith and power. No need to fear man or circumstances. Tell fear to take a hike - you're moving on with Jesus!

Spring is coming and Aslan is on the move. Time to be about His business living in His power and authority.

Amen?

And now if you'll permit me to borrow the Apostle Paul's words for my own:

"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." (1 Thess. 5:23-24 ESV)

"May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ." (2 Thess. 3:5 ESV)

"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen." (1 Cor. 16:23-24 ESV).

Christopher Long
BodEquip Ministries

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This is version 1.0 of this document (January 2, 2021).
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This document is provided as a ministry outreach of BodEquip Ministries. http://www.bodequip.org