Adventures in Wonderland, #9

It seems like we always end with some kind of “problem” that keeps us coming back for further introspection into the world of Wonderland (AKA: Kingdom Life).  Once Alice unlocks the door and enters in, she quickly discovers there’s a battle to be won for the sake of the Kingdom: a battle over evil that seeks to rule hearts.  It’s a battle over one whose head is “bulbous” from pride, who lives the lie that evil can rule by force and intimidation.  Frankly, the Queen of Hearts has had her day, the story has been written, and a champion is on the horizon. 

This is in such similarity to our spiritual enemy, who desires to rule our souls, our hearts.  He, too, uses lies and intimidation as his greatest tools, and somehow we believe them, and for some reason we keep giving him the authority to render us shaking in our boots.  YET THE GOOD NEWS.  The story has been written.  There is a “Frabjous Day” ahead, when the champion will defeat the enemy. 

Ultimately, our champion is Jesus.  In the meantime, we don’t have to live under the rule and defeat of the enemy on this journey in Wonderland.  We, too, have armor, and a sword, to pick up and slay the beast.  Even so, Alice! 

Oh, there’s no question, Alice falls prey to the intimidation.  She loses some of her strong confidence, courage, and conviction in the presence of her enemy.  She loses some of her “muchness,” as the quirky Hatter proclaims.  Even wise Absalom tells her, “You’re almost Alice.”

Even in Wonderland, we can lose part of ourselves as we stand in the intimidation of the enemy.  However, a visit to the White Queen gives Alice another key to victory.  “You can not live your life to please others,” she says. “The choice must be yours alone.”  With that, and the realization that she has all she needs in armor and sword, Alice makes the choice.  Her return to confidence, courage, and conviction comes forth and she comes out The Champion.

I’m reminded of Paul’s words to me, to this Alice in Wonderland.  “For am I now seeking the favor of men or of God.  Or am I striving to please men?  If I were striving to please men, I would not be a bond-slave of Christ (Ro 1:10).”

The choice is ours.  Who do I wish to please?  Only one choice leads to victory.  I’m either slave to the insatiable appetites of this world, or the one sufficient to lead me to freedom.  One keeps me in a dreary world, even in Wonderland, and the other springs my world forth in splashes of rainbow color. 

The armor and the sword stand at the ready.  I simply need to apply them.

And…how? There’s still more, it seems.