Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: How to be Saved (07/02/26)
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TITLE: Reaching Virtual Worlds | Previous Challenge Entry
By Helen H-S
07/08/26 -
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His sister, Maureen, would call once in a while to badger him. “Carl, you really need to get out. Try a new sport at the Fitness Club,” she said.
“You know I was never any good at sports,” Carl replied.
“That was when you were a little kid. You’re thirty years old now.”
“Seriously, Maureen. Stop writing my story. I won’t start a new hobby, meet a girl, and raise a family like you. You gave our parents the grand kids, so give me a break.”
“How about what Pastor Matt preached on the other Sunday. How will you ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation’ when you’re sitting at home all the time?”
“I preach the gospel to my goldfish, and even to my orchid and peace lily every day.”
Maureen huffed and gave up during that phone call. But she had an idea. A week later, a box appeared on Carl’s doorstep. Inside the Amazon package was a set of Virtual Reality glasses, software, and directions to connect to various virtual worlds created by isolated, tech-savvy individuals all over the planet.
The gift message said, “Go! Love, Maureen.”
Carl chuckled and quickly set up his virtual world. He created his image to be that of a beaver, the unfriendly, wood-chomping mammal. He was about to create a Narnia world when he found that there already was a Narnia. He clicked on the address to see if the owner would let him enter.
Carl entered the virtual Narnia that someone created. The colors flooded his laptop screen and formed 3-D images. The waters of a lake glistened and enticed him to drink. The verdant forest sparkled with unseen life and each bush twinkled like the eyes of a hiding elf or a faun. Carl was amazed at how similar it was to his own imagined Narnia.
“Welcome to my Narnia,” said a female voice with a strong Middle Eastern accent.
“Oh. Hi, I’m a beaver… What’s your name?”
“I’m Aravis.”
“Oh! I remember. You're the girl in The Horse and His Boy.”
“That’s right. I like her of all the characters because she’s strong and refuses to be forced into a loveless marriage. Have you read the Narnia Chronicles?”
“Oh yes. Hundreds of times.”
“Ah. So you must love Narnia. So what’s your first name, Beaver?”
“Eh. Um. I think … Mister?” Carl chided himself for not remembering if the Beaver family even had first names.
“Why did you read the Narnia Chronicles so many times?”
“Well, I guess I love fantasy, and C. S. Lewis managed to tell the gospel so clearly using the stories.”
“What do you mean by ‘gospel’?”
Carl paused at the question, suddenly realizing that Aravis could be in a physical location where the gospel was unknown, or even prohibited. “It’s the Good News about how Jesus came to save the world just like Aslan saved Narnia.”
“Jesus? As in Isa?” Aravis then lowered her voice into a whisper, “ We call him Isa here but we are not allowed to read your Bible or talk about him where I live.”
Carl’s mind raced. What should he say? And what would happen if this virtual Narnia creator were caught talking about Jesus?
“Oh. Okay. Well, let’s just talk about Narnia then. See, the evil White Witch, like the devil, brought sin and suffering into the world. That’s why it was always winter and never Christmas. But God, I mean, Aslan, knew the deeper magic so he willingly allowed himself to be sacrificed to pay for the wrongdoing of all the children of Adam. And if you believe in him, you are saved…”
“Oh - I have to go, my mother is calling me. Come back and visit sometime.” With that Aravis disappeared along with her virtual Narnia.
After exiting the VR software and logging off, Carl whispered a prayer. “Lord, please protect Aravis, and please use this small seed for Your kingdom.” He got on his cellphone and texted Maureen. “Went.”
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