Have you ever been afraid? I mean, deathly, horribly, afraid? Not of the dark, or being hurt in sports or rock-climbing, or some other concrete fear, but of something more ephemeral? The answer is that, yes, we all have. It may have been fear of giving a speech, or singing in front of an audience, or of being laughed at by a girl that you wish to impress (or a boy that you wish to impress for the ladies). For Christians, it is somewhat deeper of a fear, and this is the real message of C. S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
In the book, the four Pevensies, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, are called into Narnia by Susan's magic horn she received from Father Christmas in the first book. A young boy, heir to the throne of his Telmarine ancestors who conquered Narnia several hundred years after the children returned to England, wanted to take the throne from his murderous uncle, Miraz, and reopen Narnia to the talking beasts and other creatures of Aslan that originally dwelt there.
He and the Narnians are, of course, outclassed militarily by the humans on Miraz's side, and their more sophisticated (at least to the Narnians), though crude and of less quality, weapons. It is at this point that King Caspian blows Susan's horn, and the four children are pulled into Narnia.
The book is a darker and less fanciful tale than The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The children do not have nearly such a fine time as they did on their first trip to Narnia, not until the very end at least. Whereas the earlier visit was a time of great personal blessing as well as responsibility, this was a time of hard work, with very little reward. At least this seems to be the case.
Although Aslan still does the main work of saving the day, the children and the "old Narnians", lead by Caspian, are in the very brutal situation of having to kill an opposing army that is not all bad and villainous like the White Witch's army was in the original book. This was made clear enough by the fact that a large minority of the adult Telmarines chose to stay under Caspian's rule in Narnia, and even among the majority who left, there were some who were noble.
Indeed, one could argue that this similarity to real-world warfare makes the book the "darkest" of the Narnian Chronicles, save for perhaps the final installment. Of seemingly lesser degree, but greater importance, is the struggle for faith in Aslan with which the children and Trumpkin the Dwarf must contend.
At first none but Lucy can see Aslan, but He is there, and scolds Lucy for giving into the others, and then badmouthing them behind their backs. Instead, she must face up to their doubts in her and anger at her. She must follow Aslan, and hopefully they will, as well. All of this puts Peter, Susan, and Trumpkin against her. Edmund is a bit cold towards her, but this is just his nerves, as he really does support her.
At the end, there is a short celebration, and then the children are sent home, with Peter and Susan told they will never return to Narnia. This seems like a pretty pathetic reward for their hard work and service. In the grand scheme of things, it is not, for Aslan (as God) knows what is best for them all, and has more great things in store for them. Indeed, though Susan will later deny Aslan and Narnia, she is likely still saved by the faith the four children found in Christ, Aslan's Person and Name in our world.
You see, in the cosmology of the books, Aslan gave the children the greatest gift of all by drawing them to Himself, and bringing them to a faith in Him in both worlds. The instrument He used was Lucy, as she showed incredible faith and ability, God-given, to conquer her fears. Her fears of laughter, mocking, or rejection by her siblings. Afterwards, Lucy and Susan spread the message of Aslan to others, and they followed Him, and were in bliss in His glorious Presence. But it was Lucy's faith that made this possible in the first place.
Though, as far as we know, Jesus is not a giant Lion in another world, the point about sharing the Gospel with those who so desperately need it, still stands. This can extend to other areas as well. Are we afraid to talk to others, for fear of them hurting us? Do we doubt or question God's work and role in our lives, instead of asking Him what He is trying to accomplish, and how we can serve Him? In these areas, and so many more, we hurt ourselves, others, and most importantly of all, our relationship with God, by letting our fears govern us. In this, we sin.
This book, in it's content, and it's messages, is far more serious, and difficult, than the first Narnia book, but it is well-worth it to read for enjoyment, for edification, and for seeing in vivid form, the necessity of leaning on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Even when others mock Him as not there, and even when we can not feel His Presence, He is there. He is the God Who created you and me. Trust Him and lean on Him today.
Highly Recommended.
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