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.