A Test of Will

Having reread The Magician's Nephew for the second time now, the most poignant and gripping part of the book is where Digory has reached the tree of youth, plucked an apple, and is beginning to leave when he is confronted by Jadis. Jadis has eaten the fruit herself and knows that it gives everlasting life and tempts Digory to abandon the mission given to him by Aslan and simply return home and give the apple to his mother. Digory is torn because of his love for his mother, but part of him wants to be honorable and fulfill the errand. The part of this interlude that is most intense is where Jadis alluringly appeals to Digory's lack of knowledge of and subsequent lack of allegiance to Aslan. She tells Digory that he has no obligation to obey. She tries every possible angle to convince Digory that he has every right to put his wishes and desires first. It's amazing to me how accurately C. S. Lewis portrays the tactics of Satan. He whispers to us that we have a right to be happy, that God shouldn't expect certain things from us, that God will understand and can't fault us for wanting to be "happy". I love that in this example the thing that pulls Digory out of his reverie is the thought of leaving Polly behind. His sense of charity and goodness is not so far removed that he cannot see that doing harm to another person goes beyond what is acceptable and right. If only more of us could see when faced with temptation the impact our actions will have on other people! Our world would be a more righteous, happy, and kind place. As in any moment of temptation, the level of the Spirit that is in our lives will help us to discern how we should act and what will please the Lord. May we remember in moments of temptation to put God and others first and we will be more certain to act as Digory did and stick to the mission and arrive at our destination safely and with peace of conscience.