The Fairy Tale Challenge

Sweat dripped into the eyes of the knight. He wiped his forehead with a worn sleeve, leaving a grimy smear across his face. He was breathing hard, glancing around for safe options. He was young, strong and brave, but there wasn’t a man born whose heart wouldn't melt before the threat advancing upon this one. A blast of heat and smoke filled the passageway. The little princess screamed. They were trapped. He knew it, she knew it and the dragon knew it. Slowly the beast slunk forward. It growled, low and guttural, the way a cat does when stalking a bird. Three more steps and the dragon would be on them. The knight knew it. He couldn't let it happen. He couldn't fail the princess. Two more steps. Something rose up in the knight, something more than human. With strength and power that he didn't possess, the knight flew at the dragon and buried his sword in the beast's throat. The dragon lurched back, clawing at the air. The knight grabbed the girl's hand and pulled her past the dying monster before they were crushed by its fall. They ran into the sunlight, shaking and alive.

Fairy tales aren't always about fighting dragons, but they do pull us into a world of challenges and threats that must be overcome. They are fairy tales because we don't normally run into fire-breathing dragons, evil queens with magic mirrors or frogs that turn into princes. Fairy tales threaten the lives of our heroes. Our man must overcome unbelievable odds, but when he does, he wins a prize of unbelievable value. The effort, toil and pain is all worth it and everyone lives happily ever after, except for the dead dragon, evil queen or wicked witch.

No one wakes up in the morning thinking, Gosh, I wish I could stand before a larger-than-life monster and kill it with my bare hands defending the young and helpless. But when we read these stories, we almost wish that we could be as heroic. Granted, there are real life heroes that rescue people from burning buildings and mountaintops. But where does that leave the rest of us? Being a princess is all well and good, but I want to be a hero too. Well, it turns out that I can and so can you.

What's the basic hero job description: be brave, fight evil, protect the defenseless. Aren't we called to do that as Christians? Is it not the heart of God to watch over the little ones and keep them from harm? To stand against evil and speak truth? To bring compassion, mercy and healing to those in need? Pretty heroic stuff if you ask me. And stuff that we are all capable of doing.

We even have real life models to follow: David, Gideon, Jael, who drove a tent peg into Sisera's head. Those were real people, people who would have preferred living peacefully and unchallenged, like us. Real people who came up against real-life dragons and they came out shaking and alive. Even those stories seem as fantastic as fairy tales, but it shows that God does call us to be heroic when there's need.

Our dragons probably won't involve hoards of Philistines or giants, but they're out there and you run up against them everyday. Our dragons are real and evil and have every intent to kill and destroy, not just the little dog next door, but you, your family and whole people groups. Were it not for the Holy Spirit, this world would not be habitable. The enemy would be unchallenged in destroying all human life.

But there is a Holy One, a King of Kings, whose word is strong and more powerful than a two-edged sword. The enemy cowers before Him like the worm that he is. But Jesus was a heroic model of a different kind. He didn't go around looking for evil to fight, He did that as He happened to come upon it. He went around looking to do good. He was a hero of kindness. He brought comfort, healing and hope and the enemy fled before Him. Doing the works of the Spirit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness will destroy the works of the enemy as effectively and as easily as a sword to the throat.

The difference between our dragons and the ones in fairy tales, or even in the Old Testament, is that our dragons are all about smoke and mirrors not smoke and fire. Jesus pulled the dragon's teeth when He rose from the dead. The enemy makes himself look like the old scary dragon, but if you look behind the curtain, he is no real threat. If you let him alone to kill and destroy, he will. But if you live in the Word and allow the Holy Spirit to move through you and affect the lives around you, the enemy is defenseless against you. Your sword and shield are more than he can defeat. Your armor is bulletproof. Not that it won't cost you something. If you don't have the courage to stand and be strong, you'll never know how God will take your efforts and multiply them with angelic support.

What's the difference between you and the knights in the stories? Your armor is a lot more comfortable. No chaffing. And when you lay your crown before the throne, you will hear, "Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord."