Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Sanctification (02/19/26)
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TITLE: In Need of Aslan | Previous Challenge Entry
By Joanna Dietz
02/26/26 -
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It is simply this: to become more like Jesus.
So now you know the definition. But words can only go so far. Wouldn’t you actually like to know what sanctification looks like, feels like?
I will defer to C. S. Lewis to be my artist.
But before we talk about sanctification, we should start with salvation. Jesus Christ alone accomplishes salvation. We have nothing to do with it except to accept the gift He offers.
Now, for a first picture from Lewis.
In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Aslan is slain by the White Witch on the stone table in the place of the traitor Edmund. Edmund could not save himself. Aslan alone could save him, even as Jesus Christ alone saves the sinner.
Now, what about sanctification?
Sanctification begins for every Christian the moment he or she is saved. As we’ve already said, sanctification is becoming more like Jesus. The Christian may valiantly endeavor to do so, but what I think many never learn or realize is that they need Jesus just as much in their sanctification as they did in their salvation. Jesus says, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5b, NASB). And in Romans we learn that “the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:11b, NASB). To attempt sanctification on our own is sure to fail.
So, we come to our second picture from Lewis.
In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Eustace Scrubb is stuck in his dragon form. He finds himself with Aslan by a well. Eustace wants to bathe there, but Aslan says Eustace must first undress. Eustace realizes Aslan is referring to his dragon scales and begins to try to scratch them off. But it is not until Eustace lets Aslan use his claws on him that the nasty scales are satisfactorily removed.
Lewis has sketched two aspects of sanctification for us. Not only do we absolutely need Jesus Christ for sanctification, but sanctification can hurt. While it can involve beautiful worship songs and smiling Sunday school teachers, sanctification can be exceedingly painful when it requires us to give up, with Jesus’s help, what our flesh longs for, even desperately so.
And now for one final picture of sanctification.
In The Silver Chair, Eustace, his friend Jill, and their pessimistic companion, Puddleglum, go through trial after trial--many self-inflicted—in their search for the lost prince of Narnia. They make mistake after mistake and even forget the words of Aslan, becoming distracted from their mission. But when they return to the words of Aslan, their mission is resumed, and, although difficulties still abound, they succeed in doing what Aslan sent them to do.
And so, Lewis has painted for us two other aspects of sanctification.
First, even as the words of Aslan provided direction, so do the words of Jesus. If I do not know the instructions, is it not madness to think I could follow them? Then why am I so slow to listen to Jesus speaking from the pages of my Bible? It is interesting to note that the three companions were advancing or wandering depending on how in touch they were with Aslan’s instructions.
Secondly and finally, sanctification is a journey, a process. Just like Eustace, Jill and Puddleglum failed and make mistakes, so will the Christian. But just like Aslan the Lion, our Aslan remains faithful.
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus. - Philippians 1:6 (NASB)
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