The tale or myth known as Sleeping Beauty was originated in Europe in the middle Ages. This story has been told and retold many times and was published in Italy, France and Germany with some variations from 1300-1800.
In the twentieth century this trend continued and in 1959 Disney made this tale into a full length animated film. At the beginning it was a theatrical failure, but this movie was re-released many times in subsequent decades, becoming one of the most profitable productions of its era.
The premise of the story is simple: A princess named Aurora or Briar Rose is cursed by an evil witch (all witches are evil, by the way) and falls into a deep sleep that could only be broken by the kiss of her one true love. The movie ends with the “resurrection” of the princess as she is kissed by the prince.
This is witchcraft disguised as a children’s fairy (another word for witch) tale. In this movie you can find spells, incantations, witches and even a dragon. On the other hand, even a movie or a tale such as this can illustrate powerful truths…unintentionally, of course.
For me, the witches and fairies represent demons and worshippers of Satan, who is depicted in the story by Maleficent, the mistress of evil, who later on turns into a dragon. The book of Revelation reveals the identity of this dragon:
“He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;” (Revelation 20:2)
And what about Aurora, the Sleeping Beauty? I believe it symbolizes the overall state of the church of Jesus Christ today. This world is crumbling under the weight of sin and immorality and the church (for the most part) seems to be asleep.
We have placed our lamps under a basket (Matthew 5:15) while we sleep in a bed of complacency and apathy. The world is turning darker every day and very few believers are bold enough to shine their light for Christ, which is the truth of the Gospel as we live it and proclaim it.
A sleeping church is as effective as a weapon without any bullets. Even the apostles were admonished by Christ for sleeping in his greatest hour of need (Luke 22:45-47). We must wake up from our spiritual slumber to be an effective witness for Christ in this world.
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” (Ephesians 5:8-14)
A. G.
