Slaying Dragons

Oh, the things a mama can learn from a six-year-old boy!

My son asked his dad to draw him a picture the other day. The conversation went like this:

Boy: Dad, would you draw a picture and send it to me? (Dad was away for work.)

Dad: I’ll draw one of you. How about that?
Boy: (Getting excited now) Draw a picture of me and make me a knight! And put a castle behind me and a dragon in front of me. AND GIVE ME A SWORD! And give me some armor!

It reminds me of another Father…

From the sixth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (quoted from The Message, emphasis mine):

“God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare…”

If you grew up in church, you’re more likely to recognize it in this form:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit…” (Ephesians 6:10-18a, NASB)

There is a reason little boys pretend to be knights, soldiers and firefighters. (And it’s not just little boys. As a little girl, I was enthralled with King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table.) We’re meant to battle evil…and win. It’s important that we don’t forget that last part. God has never set us up for failure. We’re made in His image, after all, and He wins.

Many years ago, I visited Corrie ten Boom’s house in Haarlem, Holland, where the Ten Boom family hid Jews from the Nazis during World War II. I remember there was a small plaque there that said, “Jezus, de Overwinnaar” . Translate the Dutch to English and it says “Jesus, the Overwinner” or “Jesus, the Victor”.


Jesus wins.

Jesus already won.

That same six-year-old has been singing one line from a song over and over lately: "Jesus won back all that Adam had lost..."*

And because Jesus won, we get to win. We have been given the armor, the sword, the shield, the horse bred for battle, the castle. The dragon is as good as slain, but we still get the honor of getting in on the battle.

My son has been captivated lately by the idea of “good guys” and “bad guys”. I told him recently to choose his side carefully – that God never loses, so if you don’t want to be on the losing side…well…just sayin’…

He considered that and then went on to line up his knights, their horses, some unmanned horses borrowed from a game, his little brother’s sealife figurines, and a zebra (everyone gets a chance to be a hero!) – all to fight and slay the big, red, fire-breathing dragon (who was already doomed to lose).

Yes, my son, I thought, you are getting ready to slay some dragons.

(And so is your mom. Now…where’s that sword of mine?)

Ambushed by The Overwinner,
Kimberly




*lyrics from a CD of children singing, titled "Greater Things", available on ibethel.org

Addendum:
Oh, there it is! My sword!
A friend read this post and sent me this (she drew it...I love it). Thank you, Rebecca!

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12, KJV)