Edmund and the White Witch - An Analogy for Life

God often speaks to me in analogies and illustrations.  One vivid illustration God used in my life comes from the movie, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in The Chronicles of Narnia.  Within the movie one of the children, Edmund, accidentally finds himself in Narnia.  He is alone and looking for his sister, Lucy, when he comes in contact with the White Witch.   What he does not realize is that she is the evil Queen of Narnia.

Jadis, the White Witch invites Edmund into her sleigh to sit with her under her warm blankets as it is cold in Narnia and he accepts.  She asks him what he would like to eat and he asks for Turkish delight, his favorite treat.  As he is thoroughly enjoying it, she tells him that she could see him being Prince of Narnia or maybe even King one day.  However, he needs to come to her castle with his family.  She tempts him by saying that her castle has whole rooms full of Turkish delight. 

By tempting his pride and his stomach, she draws him to her castle.  But, he comes alone and consequently the witch imprisons him.  He ends up chained up and fed dry bread – with no Turkish delight anywhere to be seen.  He realizes that he was lied to by the White Witch and now his siblings are in danger because of him.

Our Own Temptation, Sin and Imprisonment

Just like Edmund, temptation often comes to us packaged by our enemy, Satan, as something good.  The first taste is so sweet and leaves us wanting more.  However, when we act on the temptation and give into sin, we find that we are left empty handed and imprisoned.  Our enemy also lies to us; in fact, the Bible says that Satan is the father of all lies. (John 8:44)

Have you ever been in a similar situation before?  I know I have.  Even as a Christian married woman, I was enticed by the enemy to look at soft porn.  Before long, it turned into much more and I found myself imprisoned by my sexual sin.  It was a cycle of temptation, giving into the sin and then feeling the intense shame.  And although I knew it was wrong and I should stop, I kept on doing it.  It left me empty and hopeless.

There is Hope and Freedom

There was hope for Edmund as he was eventually freed from the grips of the White Witch.  I encourage you to watch the movie to see how it ends.  In the movie, the character, Aslan, is a representation of Jesus.  Just as Edmund was rescued from his “sin”, I was also rescued from mine.  

I tried self-help and behavioral modification techniques and even though they helped temporarily, they never brought lasting freedom in my life.  Only when I truly surrendered to Christ did I find freedom.  It didn’t come immediately and was a process, but I am now free and have been now for a decade. 

Which “White Witch” Are You Facing Today?

You may not be struggling with a sexual addiction like I did.  Maybe your “white witch” is food, shopping, video games, relationships, workaholism, people-pleasing, alcohol, drugs, etc.   Anything can become an idol in our lives, even our family.  Whatever the temptation is for you, I want you to know that there is freedom in Christ.   No matter where you have been, no matter what you have done and no matter what has been done to you; there is forgiveness in Christ and there is hope.   Never give up!

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

Shelley Hitz has been ministering alongside her husband, CJ, since 1998. They currently travel and speak to teens and adults around the country. Shelley's passion is to share God's truth and the freedom in Christ she has found with others. She does this through her books, websites and speaking engagements.  Shelley's openness and vulnerability, as she shares her own story of hope and healing, will inspire and encourage you.

Shelley has been writing and publishing books since 2008 including the book she co-authored with S'ambrosia Curtis, "A Christian Woman's Guide to Breaking Free From Pornography:  It's Not Just a Guy's Problem."  During their book launch on 9/26/12 - 9/27/12, you can download a free Kindle copy and also enter to win over $400 worth of resources.  Find out more at www.ChristianWomenandPorn.com