The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe - Part III

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. (Rev 2:17)

My whole life I’ve been pretty confused about my name. See I was born Ariel-Patrick Garcia Zalamea. So early on I was called Ariel. You can imagine how that went over first day of Kindergarten when the teacher called out my name…lot’s of giggles. I asked to be called Patrick and ended up being called Pat for all of my school life. When I went to work for a large company there was a Pat (Patricia) in my department so then I started going by Patrick and it stuck. Then of course The Little Mermaid movie came out and ruined the name Ariel for all men by that name. But in my current job they found out my first name is Ariel and have been calling me that (pronounced ARE-EE-EL).

In the Bible names had special significance…I’m not sure why or REALLY how it all works but your name is basically who you are. That’s why God would change people’s names like Abram to Abraham or Sarai to Sara or Simon to Peter, because it signified that the person had changed from whatever their original name meant to what their new name means. Do a little poll, I have (non-scientific), on people you know. Find out what their name means and compare that to their personality. For the most part I’ve found it actually works…it’s very weird.

All this to say, that the scene at the end of the movie where Aslan gives the children new titles truly MovedMe. They had overcome great peril and had been changed as their titles indicate. Peter had changed from a timid wannabe adult to Peter the Magnificent. Susan the once harsh pessimist became Susan the Gentle, Edmund was no longer the treacherous little boy but became Edmund the Just, and of course Lucy wasn’t just a cute girl but Lucy the Valiant. This is a beautiful picture of what will occur when the friends of God appear before His throne. As the passage above from Revelation tells us those friends of God who overcome will be given a stone with a name on it…that only they will know.

Ariel means lion of God (I know… so not fitting for a little mermaid!) and Patrick means noble. For most of my life I’ve wanted to be a lion of God: fierce, dangerous, and strong; but mostly I’ve been nice, passive, and merely agreeable. But I believe that God is changing me day by day to be a Noble Lion of God…fierce when necessary and kind when that is called for. I also believe the change will not be complete until I see God face to face and He hands me that little stone. I look forward to that day…until then, my prayer is that His strength will fill and define me as much as His kindness and mercy.

Maybe you are like me. There are certain things about you that you just don’t like or you feel uneasy about because…well they just aren’t you. Maybe you are timid, fearful, socially uncomfortable, dry but inside there is someone valiant, bold, fun-loving, the life of the party. God wants to reveal the real you, Christian and seeker alike. Ask Him what your name is and don’t give up asking until He tells you. I started that journey a few years ago and it’s been a wonderful adventure since. For the seeker it’s time to come to terms with Jesus…only then will you have access to ask God your name.

As a side note (somewhat related) the end of the movie finally featured one of my favorite quotes from the book. Tumnus tells Lucy that Aslan is not a TAME lion and Lucy responds by telling him no but he is GOOD. I believe that about God…he is not tame but he is good. And that’s why I’m beginning to like my first name Ariel more and more because I want to be like a lion of God…not tame but good.