We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. 2 Corinthians 5:20, NIV
We all know Aslan. Many of us know Screwtape. But I bet only a few of us know Ransom.
One of C.S. Lewis’ lesser-known works is his Space Trilogy, and the least known of the three books is the middle one: Perelandra. It describes the journeys of Lewis’ hero Ransom to the planet Perelandra, which exists in a pre-Fall state of innocence.
Upon arrival on Perelandra, Ransom soon finds himself as an often outmanned half-participant, half-spectator in a conversation between “the Un-man” (Satan) and “the Lady”—an Eve-like, uncorrupted Perelandrian native. It is clear that their lengthy dialogue over many days is how Lewis imagines an expanded conversation between the Serpent and Eve described in Genesis 3:1-4. The un-Man uses every deception in the enemy’s arsenal to tempt the Lady to disobey God, and Ranson seems largely unable to effectively counter his eloquence and match his energy. If it’s his job to prevent this planet from falling into sin as did our own, he was failing miserably.
At his lowest point, feeling the inevitability of the Lady’s surrender to evil, Ransom questions,
Why did no miracle come? Or rather, why no miracle on the right side? For the presence of the Enemy was in itself a kind of Miracle. Had Hell a prerogative to work wonders? Why did Heaven work none?
I know all of us have felt this way when faced with a seemingly impossible situation, where the enemy seems to be having his way. Our school cultures are often captivated by false and destructive ideologies, and we feel powerless to stand in the gap to protect our students. Or, negativity and criticism are the constant companions in every faculty meeting and side conversation with colleagues. Often when we try to make a difference, we become the target. What can one Christian educator do?
Ransom received his answer, and so do we:
The answer which came back to him… almost took his breath away. It seemed Blasphemous…And then—he wondered how it had escaped him till now—he was forced to perceive that his own coming to Perelandra was at least as much of a marvel as the Enemy’s. That miracle on the right side, which he had demanded, had in fact occurred. He himself was the miracle.
Ransom set about his task of protecting the innocence of Perelandra with direction (and power) from the Lord. He was no longer a victim of his circumstances.
The fact that God has placed you at your school, in your community, for such a time as this, is the miracle. And as you trust the Holy Spirit living inside of you to lead you and take the risks to step out in obedience, I promise it won’t be the only miracle you see.
The longer I taught, the more aware I became of God’s ability through my obedience to influence the culture of my school. We are not victims of a godless public school system. We are ambassadors of a higher Kingdom sent with His resources to reveal what His Kingdom is like…even (especially) within public schools.
Remember, you are the miracle.
Lord, it can feel overwhelming to step into our identity as ambassadors of Your Kingdom in our schools. But Lord, You promise to go with me. Fill me with Your joy, love, and peace, so that I can overflow to my students, colleagues, and parents by the power of Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name.
Copyright David Schmus.
David is the Executive Director of Christian Educators.
