UNGODLY EDMUND

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. ~Romans 5:6-8

I think Edmund is a character that most of us can relate to – at least from time to time. He is wrapped up in his own life and has very limited patience or empathy for anyone else. He has been pining for more Turkish Delight candy since he returned to the Professor’s home and he becomes very impatient with his siblings.

Lucy was so excited to find that Edmund also experienced Narnia! She wants someone to share such a wonderful experience with, except Edmund denies that he ever was in Narnia to Peter and Susan! Such a betrayal of Lucy! And she is so hurt, because now not only are Peter and Susan questioning whether or not she was in this land called Narnia, but she also does not have the support of Edmund.

One day, all four siblings stumble into the land of Narnia and Peter challenges Edmund about the lie he told. Edmund’s response? Anger and the desire for revenge. He decides he is going to betray his siblings to the White Witch.

Edmund is not a very nice person, is he? And yet, isn’t there a bit of Edmund in all of us at times? We probably don’t like to admit that. After all, we are pretty decent people – but when we become angry over something simple like being called out on a lie we can respond in ways that are not typical for us. For none of us like to see ourselves in a bad light.

Edmund is a traitor, a liar, and dishonest – and Peter calls him a “beast.”

You probably know people that you don’t think are very nice. Besides the negative traits we find in Edmund, there are other things we see in people that we don’t like….

· Prejudice

· Judgmentalism

· Thinking more highly of themselves than others

· Anger issues

· Swearing

· Thinking they are always right

Yet Romans tells us that Christ died precisely for people who are ungodly – including us! And he did this so that we would know God’s extreme love for EVERYONE – those we think are good, those we think should never be forgiven, and everyone in between. This is the good news that begins with the arrival of a baby, born to a virgin, in a stable and ends with the cross and the resurrection. Think about it!