In C. S. Lewis' speech "The Weight of Glory" Lewis captures the fact that as human beings we sometimes catch glimpses of another world, and part of us yearns to be there. These experiences cause us to feel like strangers in our world and remind us that this earth and this mortal existence as not truly our "home". Elder Jeffrey R. Holland stated, as quoted by Sheri Dew1, "This is not our home, sometimes we act as though we are going to stay here, when we aren’t, we can’t, and we won’t.” It is important for us as mortals to remember that we are divine beings with a greater destiny before us and it is our duty to live up to that destiny. One day that door will open and invite us into the the presence of our Father, where we should belong, but our choices in this life will determine whether we take the step through that door and feel comfortable and joyful in the presence of our God, or whether we close the door and walk away because we are not fit for the kingdom.
1-http://devotional.byuh.edu/node/339
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Approaching Heaven
My first experience with the Chronicles of Narnia was two summers ago. I had somehow managed to go my whole childhood without reading these timeless classics. But as I read them for the first time I felt like a child who's eyes were being opened to a world of truth tucked obscurely throughout the pages. Precious knowledge I had learned on my mission, things I had learned about myself, and my testimony of Christ allowed me to recognize profound principles. C. S. Lewis knew those acquainted with Christ would perceive these things, and in this way he teaches much the way the Savior Himself taught through parables. Through these simple, yet profound books I felt I was approaching heaven and seeing things of God a little more clearly.
I'm now taking a C. S. Lewis class at BYU and we've begun our study with Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, Mere Christianity, and the Weight of Glory. In Mere Christianity Lewis tackles the topic of what men need to experience to become like Christ. He refers to it as the "great infection" and uses the analogy of tin soldiers being made into flesh. For these soldiers, the process to become mortal is uncomfortable, foreign, and even painful. Some may dislike the feeling so much that they refuse to change and choose to remain tin. Others, though uncomfortable, endure the process.
Christ wants all of us to be "transformed", to become like Him. Because we are imperfect, mortal creatures this is not an easy or comfortable task. It requires that we give our whole selves to Him, retaining nothing. For some this process is too painful so they choose to remain mere mortals. But for those who submit willingly to the Master and let Him work in us, the reward is our greatest, truest, happiest self. I love the Savior's words "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Matt. 16:25) I know His promise is true, and that the road to becoming like Him is not easy, but the reward is worth every cost.
I'm now taking a C. S. Lewis class at BYU and we've begun our study with Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, Mere Christianity, and the Weight of Glory. In Mere Christianity Lewis tackles the topic of what men need to experience to become like Christ. He refers to it as the "great infection" and uses the analogy of tin soldiers being made into flesh. For these soldiers, the process to become mortal is uncomfortable, foreign, and even painful. Some may dislike the feeling so much that they refuse to change and choose to remain tin. Others, though uncomfortable, endure the process.
Christ wants all of us to be "transformed", to become like Him. Because we are imperfect, mortal creatures this is not an easy or comfortable task. It requires that we give our whole selves to Him, retaining nothing. For some this process is too painful so they choose to remain mere mortals. But for those who submit willingly to the Master and let Him work in us, the reward is our greatest, truest, happiest self. I love the Savior's words "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Matt. 16:25) I know His promise is true, and that the road to becoming like Him is not easy, but the reward is worth every cost.
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