His Ways or Ours

“...Aslan didn't tell Pole what would happen. He only told her what to do. That fellow will be the death of us once he's up, I shouldn't wonder. But that doesn't let us off following the signs.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair

One of my favorite C.S. Lewis books is "The Silver Chair" (which is a part of the Narnia series), mainly because of this quote. The scene is set in this way:

Aslan tells Pole that she is to do whatever is asked of her by the first person she encounters who asks her to do something in the name of Aslan. Later in the story, Pole and her companion are in a room with a man who says he must not be released from the "silver chair" he is tied to, for if released, he would kill them both. So Pole and her companion wait for this madman as they watch him appear to go crazy while locked in his chair. Then, to the dismay of Pole, the man said, "In the name of Aslan release me from this chair."

It was in this moment Pole was presented with the greatest challenge she had yet seen. What does she do? Does she obey what Aslan had said and release this madman who, to the best of her knowledge, would kill her? Or does she justify disobedience by saying, "this could not be what Aslan would have intended by his instructions". 

We are all presented with this same scenario in the same way in our lives, usually on a daily basis, as we encounter situations where we have to decide if we will do what God has asked of us or, with our own logical re-interpretation of His Word, determine a new meaning not requiring our obedience. 

The above quote sums up the act of faith and obedience we must all have. God does not tell us what will happen every time we are confronted with a choice to follow his way verses the way of this world we live in. He only says obey. 

In these situations we are confronted with some deep personal questions. Do we truly believe God knows more then us? Do we believe His ways are better then ours? Are we truly submitted to His authority, leadership and Lordship in our lives? The answer to these questions is not in our verbal response but in our actions. Will we obey, even when the apparent consequences seem so out of touch with our "logical" ways of living life? Who’s ways will win, ours or His?