‘Bigger on the Inside Too…’

Way back in June, 2012 I added my first post to Blue Box Parables, ‘Bigger on the inside…’

It aimed to compare what it means for Christians to be ‘in Christ’, with the experience of the Doctor’s companions when they discover to their surprise and delight that his sentient time  machine, the TARDIS, is, in fact, ‘bigger on the inside’. 

Then, just the other day I picked up an old copy of C.S.Lewis’ final instalment of The Chronicles of Narnia, ‘The Last Battle’, and came across the explanation given by Lord Digory and Queen Lucy to Tirian, King of Narnia, who was troubled to discover that the space inside the stable was not a cramped and dangerous darkness, as he expected, but all, ‘blue sky overhead, and grassy country spreading as far as he could see in every direction’, because he had, in fact, entered into all of Aslan’s country.

“It seems, then,” said Tirian, smiling himself, “that the stable seen from within and the stable seen from without are two different places.”

“Yes,” said the Lord Digory, “Its inside is bigger than its outside.”
“Yes,” said Queen Lucy. “In our world too, a stable once had something inside it that was bigger than our whole world.” 

Which reminded me of that other dimension of our experience in Christ; ‘Christ in us’.

‘I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.’ Galatians 2:20 ESV

We, too, are created, ‘bigger on the inside’, for this particular purpose, that we may be filled with something ‘bigger than our whole world’! With someone bigger than ourselves!

^‘For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.’ Ephesians 3:14-19 ESV

This always seems too great a stretch until, made new in Christ, He fills us with himself.

‘Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.’ Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV