I wait all year for Door County summers:
for the beauty and the warmth,
for the joy of children and grandchildren coming
and for times on the back porch, talking with friends about things that matter, while the waves lap against the shore.
And yet,
as blessed as I am, and I know I am,
none of these things truly satisfy.
This is why:
Some of my favorite quotes are in these
short but pithy closing chapters of
Book 3 of Mere Christianity:
words that penetrate my heart and help me live in a world,
though echoing of Eden,
is still, as Lewis says, “enemy territory.”
We’ve had so much joy, but each day is always also dampened by disappointment: sickness, bee stings, jealousy and fighting among the children, 3 trips to Urgent Care in July alone, continual noise and mess, and a storm that bashed our new raft upon the rocks.
These are all such small trials compared to what Lewis’ listeners were enduring in World War II, yet they seep into each new day, like the drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet.
These messages on hope and faith
are stand alone radio addresses given in World War II,
so jump in even if you have not been here before!
Sunday:
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
2. What echo of Eden have you experienced this week?
Monday: Hope
3. Read or listen to the following and share what stands out to you and why.
Tuesday: Reflections on Hope
4. Lewis contends that those who have their eyes fixed on the next world are of the most use in this world. How does Hebrews 11 support this? How have you seen this?
5. Lewis says, because we were made for another world, not even the best marriage, the best vacation, or the best job can truly satisfy. There are three ways of dealing with this truth.
A. What is the Fool’s Way?
B. What is the disillusioned man’s way?
C. What is the Christian way?
6. What does Lewis say about the symbols God uses for heaven? (For those who were with us when we studied Isaiah’s view of heaven — how do you see heaven?)
Wednesday: Faith — Chapter 11.
7. Read or listen to chapter 11 of Book 3 and comment:
8. On the one hand, faith does not seem hard, when the evidence is so great. Yet Lewis says there is a battle between faith and reason on one side and emotion and imagination on the other. What examples stand out to you from the ones he gave and why?
9. How do you see this happening in your heart when you are tried by trials or when God’s will seems hard?
Thursday: Faith – Chapter 12.
10. Read or listen to the following and share what stands out to you and why.
11. Do you feel, as Lewis asks, that you have reached the point where you truly realize you can do nothing apart from God?
12. How do you explain the relationship between faith and works using Ephesians 2:8-9?
Friday/Saturday: Reflections on Book 3 on Christian Behavior
13. In a year, what do you think you will remember from Lewis’ lectures on Christian behavior?
On a personal note, I am sorry for the frustration of tech troubles last week. Our great website company worked all day yesterday and it is fixed. Hurrah for David and his team — and thank you to all who pray and give to help me afford this blog. You are a joy and an encouragement, not just to one another, and to many silent bloggers, including many women who were once in prison and are endeavoring to stay set free, but also, you are a real encouragement to me!
81 comments
Sunday1. What stands out to you from the above and why. How blessed you say you are and you know it, but none of those things that cause you to see your blessedness truly satisfy. I was always amazed how much my Dad yearned for heaven. His face would light up just talking about the hope he had in one day seeing his Lord face to face. I think he realized as Lewis said, “ he was made for another world.”Enjoyed the sweet photos of your grandchildren!2. What echo of Eden have you experienced this week?Spending time with my grandson and enjoying life through his eyes! All the beautiful birds and flowers in my backyard.
“Seeing the world through his eyes” — yes!
Sunday: 1. What stands out to you from the above and why? The reality that we live in a broken and fallen world with small but tiring trials like bee stings, sickness, fighting children, storms and such. But in the midst of it hearing echos of Eden. Keeping perspective is the challenge. 2. What echo of Eden have you experienced this week? We attended our National Church Conference in Rochester, MN last week. This year is incredibly beautiful in the midwest because of the rains. As we traveled through Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota it is lush and green. The weather was gorgeous and we just drank in the natural beauty of the season. While at the conference we heard wonderful teaching from God’s Word and had sweet fellowship with many old and new friends. Jesus was our focus. Definitely echos of Eden.
I can picture that, having lived there 25 years! Lovely, Bev.
1. What stood out? The stark contrast between the natural beauty of summer with the good longing for family to be together, and the reality of conflict and accidents, disease and destruction. 2. Echoes of Eden. I see it in my garden, the bountiful harvest coupled with leaves that are dying and fruit that is misshapen. The sweetness of Christian fellowship and the knowledge of our fallen natures that we share as prayer requests.
3. Chapter 10, hope. Aim at something better and grander than this world, and you will get this world also. Aim only at it, and you will get nothing. ‘Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they want acutely something that can’t be had in this world.’ Hmm. Maybe all my grasping and praying for an answer to my overeating is like this, and I need to quit looking merely at it, but look larger and longer and pin my hopes on the world to come and so change my aim and demeanor.three ways of dealing with our longings the fool’s way. Blame the thing itself and look for a better, different one, whether that be job or spouse or whatever.the sensible man. Adjust your expectations lower.the Christian way. Recognize earthly things can only make you aware of the true treasures in heaven, and make heaven your aim and goal. Don’t get bogged down in the symbolism.i think as long as you remember that heaven equals Jesus, that is OK. If you think of it as a replacement for things you want here, you will still miss out. Am talking to myself here. I can’t go wishing for what God gives and want that more than wanting God.
Really good contemplating, Mary.
It also reminds me of what we have learned about the expulsive love of a new affection.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? Dee, I enjoy seeing the photos of the beauty of your home and of your grandchildren! And I resonate with this: “We’ve had so much joy, but each day is always also dampened by disappointment: sickness, bee stings, jealousy and fighting among the children, 3 trips to Urgent Care in July alone….” Yes, these things “seep” into our days because we still live in enemy territory, and I have found myself with such high expectations for things like having a wonderful family vacation or a family dinner, or a special day with my daughter or a friend, and some disappointment happens, or, things may go really well, but the good time comes to an end and I’m left with a longing that even the “perfect” day didn’t completely satisfy. How many times have I been the one to bring the disappointment because of my own sinfulness.
Susan — you and I are romantics and always a bit surprised by a cloud moving into the perfect sky!
2. What Echo of Eden have you experienced this week? On Saturday, my daughter and I rode bikes on the Towpath. It was a beautiful mostly sunny day, yet not so hot as it’s been; there was a coolness in the breeze. We enjoyed each other’s company, being out in nature, seeing a heron, and the feeling of moving fast on our bikes. The ‘pangs’ come (for me) in thinking about her being a senior in HS this year and our seemingly endless opportunities to spend time together will change. I guess that’s why these moments are called “echoes”….My dad came for dinner yesterday, and we sat on the porch and listened to his stories. He’s 91 now, and I feel a sense of amazement that he is still here, and the stories he tells are still being told. I marvel at how he can tell of things that happened when he got out of the service, some 70 years ago, as if it just happened last month. He is an example of “living history”. The things those faded blue eyes have seen and that aged body has lived through. He also says how he longs for heaven because life at his age and his physical problems are not all that enjoyable. He is ready to die; I understand but at the same time I don’t want him to go. I guess all our days are lived under that shadow of death that came after the Fall.
“I guess all our days are lived under that shadow of death that came after the fall.”
But one day!!!!!!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? Love the beauty of your area, Dee!2. What echo of Eden have you experienced this week?My husband and I recently had our backyard constructed into a beautiful entertainment area. We used to have an above ground pool, but hurricane Sandy put a tree through it. We decided to wait and decide what to do with the space. It isn’t quite completely the way we wanted (still need landscaping and a bit more construction), but it is SO peaceful and I relish the time sitting there now. I’m very glad we did it!
3. Read or listen to the following and share what stands out to you and why. This chapter has some great thoughts and sayings. “It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.” “This” being having their minds occupied with Heaven. The next quote “Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither” is a well known and profound thought from this chapter. Our eternal Hope lies in Jesus and His obtaining our redemption from this sinful broken world. So it is good for us to rest in and relish that Hope because it brightens our day and lifts our spirits. As he goes on to discuss the longing in our hearts for satisfaction and how people try to find that satisfaction but always come up empty it reminded me of how the only true satisfaction for the soul is found in Jesus. He alone is our Hope and Heaven is where we will get to see Him in fulness. How wonderful that will be. I laughed at his comment about “people who try to make the Christian hope of ‘Heaven’ ridiculous by saying they don’t want to spend eternity playing harps. His response to that was “The answer to such people is that if they cannot understand books written for grownups, they should not talk about them.” 😀He ended this chapter on a great note of humor. “People who take these symbols literally might as well think that when Christ told us to be like doves,He meant that we were to lay eggs.” Ha ha!
3. Read or listen to the following and share what stands out to you and why. “Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither.” “Most of us find it very difficult to want ‘Heaven’ at all—except in so far as ‘Heaven’ means meeting again our friends who have died.” “All the scriptural imagery (harps, crowns, gold, etc.) is, of course, a merely symbolical attempt to express the inexpressible. Musical instruments are mentioned because for many people (not all) music is the thing known in the present life which most strongly suggests ecstasy and infinity. Crowns are mentioned to suggest the fact that those who are united with God in eternity share His splendour and power and joy. Gold is mentioned to suggest the timelessness of Heaven (gold does not rust) and the preciousness of it.”
Testing from Dee. Edit.
Dee, I can’t seem to edit after I’ve posted now. I use Safari. Also the green box that says “your comment has been posted“ is back.
Testing from Safari.
Testing from Safari. Edit from Safari.
Laura — I can post and edit from both chrome and safari. Do you mind refreshing your browser or turning your computer or phone off and on? They worked on it most of Saturday so want to make sure before I go back to them. Thanks.
I turned my phone off and am trying this now as a test to edit.
No edit function yet.
Closed the browser to see if that works?
Monday3. Read or listen to the following and share what stands out to you and why.”I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death…I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same.”This made me realize how intentional the desire for “my true country” must be…kept in the forefront of my thoughts. Not just for myself but to help others do the same!
1) I was immediately blown away by the first picture–the stunning beauty of creation just outside your very windows, Dee. ohh my goodness. Only our great God in heaven above can paint such colors, create such majestic views. I keep going back to this picture over & over again, it is just — I really have no words. One of the top reasons why we love Door County so much.And then the pics of your grandkids. I love kids, so it’s really sweet to see pictures of yours, and how much fun they’re all having at their gramma’s house this summer. Thanx for sharing them!
Thanks, Wendy — yes — we are so blessed to be able to be here! When the new Jerusalem comes down from heaven dressed as a bride, I hope I can recognize Ephraim as part of it!
“When the new Jerusalem comes down from heaven dressed as a bride, I hope I can recognize Ephraim as part of it!” THAT makes me smile–a big smile!
New post for test.
Still no edit function and my name and email disappear instead of staying put as usual. It’s funny, I had no trouble when others did last week and now I am having trouble. It may be that something “corrected” for others is now affecting me? It’s fine. I will just make sure I don’t have to edit. I also have noticed that when I type my comment and then copy it (in case I lose it), it copies my previous comment instead of my new one. It tells me (new again) that I already posted the duplicate comment…I have to close my browser and reopen again to get the new post to post. I have never had trouble like this and I have a decent phone (not too old).
I know they are trying to figure it out, Laura.
I am wondering if anyone else is having trouble?
Thanks for your patience.
I have been unable to edit on Safari or Chrome! I had to reset Safari to get the comment box but no edit!
Thanks, Sharon!
Laura — could you try again and e-mail me if you cannot get on? Thanks – Dee
comments@deebrestin.com
It’s been a few years since I’ve visited here! And I happened to stumble into a fitting and encouraging message for today. Hope. Whats stood out for me is “aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in…” a reminder to keep an eternal perspective no matter how dark and unending a trial may seem. It’s never in vain when we hold on to Gods big, loving hands.Thank you for sharing a hopeful message today ❤️
Welcome back Susie!
Our website woes are continuing and they are continuing to work on it — I am so sorry — pray for them as they work. It is mysterious as it is happening to some of you but not all — and not me. If you are still having trouble, could you e-mail me at comments@deebrestin and tell me what is happening, what server, and i’ll forward it to them.
4. Lewis contends that those who have their eyes fixed on the next world are of the most use in this world. How does Hebrews 11 support this? How have you seen this? Hebrews speaks of ancient people on Earth who abided by God’s law, through faith (unseen hope), and were rewarded with His favor. They were heirs to the righteousness that comes through that faith. I have been rewarded in the past when I follow God’s way. Or, it was my perception that I was rewarded ; what I wanted to happen (hoped for) actually did. I won’t know about my actual righteousness until I meet Jesus though, right? I always have to look that word up! I forget what it means… 1 : acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin. 2 a : morally right or justifiable. a righteous decision.Merriam-Webster So, my reward (being free from sin and guilt) is hoped for now and guaranteed by God if and when I go to heaven.
5. Lewis says, because we were made for another world, not even the best marriage, the best vacation, or the best job can truly satisfy. There are three ways of dealing with this truth.A. What is the Fool’s Way? Putting the blame on the things themselves; a different woman, more expensive holiday, etc. He believes if he had done things differently he would have had what he longed for in his life.B. What is the disillusioned man’s way?This man thinks he is too old and the thing he is looking for should have been found in his youth. He settles down and represses his desire for that “something” he used to search for in earlier days.C. What is the Christian way?The Christian person realizes what he is searching for isn’t found here on Earth. He or she should do our best to live for our real home in heaven with God.
Hi Laura —
We are still testing. Any change on your ability to edit? Thanks
4. Support from Hebrews that those having their eyes fixed on heaven are of the most use now. Noah, building the ark and saving a remnant of humanity. Moses leading the people out of Eygpt. Is this what I was to see?? I can think about people who are totally sold out. They are energetic and active. They inspire others. As opposed to people who are just happy to be. They drift along peacefully, never doing much of anything. They don’t make a splash in any way. 5. The fool’s way is to discard what ever doesn’t satisfy and look for the next best thing that surely will do it. The disillusioned man changes his expectations, lowering them, so that nothing continues to disappoint. The Christian way is different. This one recognizes the things that don’t satisfy here are pointing to a greater reality in the next life, and striving for that life. 6. Lewis says that the symbols God uses aren’t to be taken literally, but are to whet our appetite for the higher things of God. Whether it is Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, or John the Baptist, there are no human words for the inadequacy we have in trying to describe the things of heaven or the things of God. Even if the words were there, the rest of us wouldn’t get it. Like color to someone born blind, it is beyond our frame of understanding.
Tuesday: Reflections on Hope 4. Lewis contends that those who have their eyes fixed on the next world are of the most use in this world. How does Hebrews 11 support this? It relates the stories of the great hero’s of faith. Hebrews 11:13-16 “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” This hope is what carried the patriarchs of the Christian faith through life and it is the same with us. As Lewis said if you live for this world only that is what you get but if you live for the hope of Heaven this world takes on a different meaning. Life on earth becomes more meaningful. How have you seen this? I think this plays out in our hearts to see others come to Christ. Heaven is about Jesus and He puts a desire in our hearts to share him with others about the very real hope of an eternity in Heaven with Him. Lewis said “I must make it (the desire for my new country) the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others do the same. 5. Lewis says, because we were made for another world, not even the best marriage, the best vacation, or the best job can truly satisfy. There are three ways of dealing with this truth.A. What is the fool’s way? The fool tries to satisfy his longings with the things of life and constantly changing them. But comes up empty in the end. B. What is the disillusioned man’s way? He takes a common sense approach to life and represses the thought of something better. C. What is the Christian way? The Christian believes we are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. That we must keep alive in ourselves the desire for our true country which we will not find til after death. 6. What does Lewis say about the symbols God uses for heaven? Lewis says “All the scriptural imagery (harps, crowns, gold, etc.) is, of course, a merely symbolical attempt to express the inexpressible.” I think inexpressible is the key word here. ”But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor 2:9 (For those who were with us when we studied Isaiah’s view of heaven — how do you see heaven?) Not sure I was a part of that study but my view of Heaven has been challenged and greatly encouraged by John Eldridge’s book “All Things New”. Isaiah 65:17-19 paints a wonderful picture of what we can expect in our “new country”. “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered,nor will they come to mind.But be glad and rejoice foreverin what I will create,for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy.I will rejoice over Jerusalemand take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.What a wonderful hope we have!!
Bev — I loved Eldredge’s book too.
I have been away on vacation. I just got back and would like to ask for prayer for my mom. She has been battling infection in both of her knees (which were originally replaced 12 years ago) since March 2017. She has been in and out of hospitals and nursing homes and has had multiple surgeries and constant medical intervention. A specialist yesterday has decided that an amputation of her right leg is the only solution. She is 75 and this is very hard for her as you might expect.
Dawn, I’m so sorry to hear this about your mom. I will pray for her.
Oh no, Dawn. Such very hard news.
I will pray for God’s comfort! So sorry.
Oh Dawn, I am so sorry to hear this about your mom and will pray….what a hard, hard decision to face. The nurse in me also thinks it would be wise to get a second opinion….will pray for wisdom for the doctors too.
Thank you Susan. She is seeing another doctor in 2 weeks, but since she still has an active infection that is not responding to antibiotics (she has been seeing an infection control doctor since April), time is of the essence.
6. What does Lewis say about the symbols God uses for heaven? (For those who were with us when we studied Isaiah’s view of heaven — how do you see heaven?) I love how he explains the metaphors. It is so helpful for my pea brain! music = ecstasy and infinitycrowns = splendor, power, and joygold = timeless and precious Isaiah’s new earth seems more tangible than what Lewis describes here. We studied how it would be here on earth, peaceful, children of God, satisfying labor where people build their own homes and live in them. There will be joy, gladness, and no weeping. God will be there for us before we need Him. No more harps for me!
On Thursday from about 10 to 11 central time they are shutting down this website to try to fix this bug — sorry about that. Please pray that they get it.
Thanks Dee…will be praying!
Thanks — that is what we need. We apparently have a virus.
Wednesday 7. Read or listen to chapter 11 of Book 3 and comment. “Faith…is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.” 8. On the one hand, faith does not seem hard, when the evidence is so great. Yet Lewis says there is a battle between faith and reason on one side and emotion and imagination on the other. What examples stand out to you from the ones he gave and why? The one that stood out to me was the boy learning to swim as I could relate. Our reason knows that if we’re unsupported in the water we won’t necessarily sink as we’ve seen others float. But once we’re unsupported our emotions can take over as to whether we really believe that, panick and sink! 9. How do you see this happening in your heart when you are tried by trials or when God’s will seems hard? In the same way, reason tells me God is faithful, He will never leave me or forsake me, but my emotions take over and I start doubting. I question if He really does know what’s best for me, is He even there and does He care…and I sink!
7. Chapter 11. I like this chapter! It makes sense to me. The human mind thinks it is ruled by reason, but it is really ruled by emotion and imagination and desires. I like Lewis’s definition of faith: the art of holding onto things your reason accepted, despite changing moods. We need to train the habit of faith. It must be fed and restored on a regular basis. When he talked about bargaining with God, that was me before Christ. And it was me, on my knees in surrender, that brought me to Him. It is encouraging to me that Lewis says when you realize God can’t be bargained with, nor can you pass any tests, then God can really get to work. I want to be gotten to work both on and through!
Hi everyone…I have missed u all & the sweet fellowship here! No excuses…except that work has been crazy busy; & honestly I’ve been down & anxious about my daughter still looking for full time work (since getting her MBA last Dec!) My marriage is very tense lately too, so I’ve been struggling to keep my eyes on the Lord & trust Him in it all. I know He is working but its hard to be patient!Dee, I loved the pics of Door County & your gorgeous grandchildren! What delight! My echoes of Eden this week: my eldest son & his girlfriend stayed with us for 4 nights & we had sweet time together. Been swimming in Lake Michigan before work when I can & it is so freeing & refreshing!Dee, will pray for website bug to be found & crushed!!! 🙂
Thanks, Jenny! Tell us where you live again — we share the same lake!
Nice to hear from you Dee! I live in northern suburb of Chicago…Glenview 🙂 Yes Lake Michigan is big enough for both of us!! 🙂
🙂
8. Examples of reason and faith vs emotion and imagination. A man with a pretty girl who can’t be trusted. Can anyone say Samson and Delilah?? 9. In myself I know what God desires for my eating habits, and I know it is sin to know what I ought to do but not do it. Yet when the temptation for food sets in, I rarely stand my ground. I say I don’t understand why He doesn’t help me. But I have this vague sense that He expects me to grow some muscle and backbone and fight it. Not lay down and wait for Him to fix it. 10. Chapter 12. The tension between faith and works, and Lewis’ illustration of the two blades of a sissors. It is hard to discern what is the faith first and which is the works.
Thursday: Faith – Chapter 12. From this chapter I very much agree with Lewis’s point that we often misunderstand what we are and what God is and that we cannot get into a right relationship with God until we discover the fact of our own bankruptcy. Do I feel I have reached the point where I truly realize I can do nothing apart from God? Yes I do. I have been a believer since childhood and I have tried hard as Lewis says to practice “good actions” and have come to realize over the years that apart from God I can do nothing. And sadly at times I still try and fail. But my faith in Him has grown out of my neediness for Him. In spite of me He remains faithful to me. The relationship between faith and works in Ephesians 2:8-9 is clearly articulated. Our salvation comes through faith (believing) and not from ourselves but it is actually a gift of God. Not by any works (good actions) on our part or else we could boast or claim we had somehow achieved our salvation and that would undermine and totally diminish the work of the Cross. The Cross was all Jesus. If we could offer any thing toward salvation the Cross would not have been necessary. But because of our complete bankruptcy we needed a complete Savior. Verse 10 is important for context to verses 8 & 9. Good works in our lives come from God. They are His handiwork in our lives and he prepared before we were even born things He has for us to do that will be for his glory alone. It is that thing that Lewis said of what we have to offer God in works is already His own. When it comes to faith and works as Christians we should be demonstrating both in our lives as we walk with God. Ephesians 2 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
What examples stand out to you from the ones he gave and why? I guess the one thing that stands out is his description of a pretty woman who always lies and isn’t trusted with a secret. He says the next time he is with her he thinks it will be better than before and she won’t lie. It never changes and he is made a fool.
I have been lied to so much over the past year (daughter and boyfriend) and every time I think she will be truthful, or do the right thing, she doesn’t. I am that person Lewis describes 😫.
You are a mama who longs to trust her daughter, but yes, time to see the pattern.
Yay Dee! I can edit and my contact info is there after I post.
The only thing weird weird is the “click to edit/delete is all bunched together and I have to space my paragraphs with several spaces so they don’t all run together. I corrected that in the edit and it worked!
I hate to mention the box is gone to be notified when new posts occur….
Thanks Laura. I can mention these things to them, but I’m going to pray about it first.
Hey Everyone,
Thanks for your prayers — it is looking very hopeful that Control Yours was able to fix the bug!
Dee
Yay God! Wonderful news 🙂
Thursday
10. Read or listen to the following and share what stands out to you and why? We “cannot get into the right relation (with God) until we have discovered the fact of our bankruptcy.” “I am talking of really discovering this:really finding out by experience that it is true.” A death opened my eyes to my bankruptcy. And as Lewis says “When the most important things in our life happen we quite often do not know, at the moment, what is going on.” So true!
11. I really do believe I’m to where I realize I can do nothing on my own. People I work with, who go to church but don’t understand, say that something or other I’ve done is good. But it isn’t me – it was God. And they aren’t happy with that. It sounds like a false humility until you walk it and know how utterly unable you are.
12. Faith and works. Very much like the chicken and the egg. If you have faith, you should be doing works. But there is nothing to boast in them, because they come as the gift of God. The very opportunity for faith or for works comes from Him. “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling “, yet even the clinging is from Him. God’s Spirit can separate bones and marrow, and also faith and works, but I can’t.
I understand how that statement (It wasn’t me, it was God) is challenging. Has anyone found a way to put it that seems better?
Maybe something like,”…only by the grace of God…?”
3. Read or listen to the following and share what stands out to you and why.
What stood out to me: Looking forward to eternity is not escapism or wishful thinking. The people who leave their mark on earth are often those whose minds are occupied with heaven. (Lewis says that this does seem to be a ‘strange rule’) One might reason that the person who was preoccupied with heaven wouldn’t care what goes on here; that might be true for the true ‘escapist’.
Lewis writes that most people only want heaven in order to see their departed loved ones again. Why is this? Because our whole education is focused on this world, or, when the real want for Heaven is present in us, we do not recognize it. I would say for the most part, when I’ve heard people talking about heaven, they do refer mainly to wanting to see their loved ones again.
4. Lewis contends that those who have their eyes fixed on the next world are of the most use in this world. How does Hebrews 11 support this? How have you seen this?
First, Hebrews 11 begins with a definition of faith: faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This parallels what Lewis writes in his chapter on Hope in that Hope, as a virtue, is not wishful thinking or mental escapism from reality, but one of the things a Christian must do. He then writes, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.” Hebrews 11 is one example of this sort of history and the writer of Hebrews writes that “….they did not receive the things promised, they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one.” Clearly, those described in Hebrews 11 were “just those who thought most of the next (world).”
One example is Moses, who “chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” (I’m not exactly sure how Moses knew what he was doing was ‘for the sake of Christ’ because Jesus wasn’t on earth when he lived, but maybe God revealed something to him about that)
I forgot to answer “How have you seen this?” I used the edit box but it didn’t show up, which might be better anyway because now I have different thoughts. The ‘larger than life’ examples quickly come to mind, like Joni Earackson Tada. She has been a quadriplegic since the age of 17. At first, she did want to die, but she asked God to show her how to live (as a quadriplegic). She has done a whole lot of good in this world, with her Wheels for the World ministry and providing so much hope and encouragement to those with disabilities. She’s on radio and has written books, and speaks and has retreat camps for families with disabilities. She is focused on heaven and how once there, she will be able to walk.
What about the rest of us, or me, the not-so-larger-than-life Christians? I often feel a vague sense of uneasiness and restlessness because so much of my time seems eaten up with taking care of everyday life; home, family, job, cleaning, cooking…..so how do I do my mundane work with a focus on heaven in order to make it meaningful? I guess the small things are important: my attitude, how I treat the people I am around each day, the quality of my work.
Your writing is always beautiful and contemplative, Susan. And I thought this chapter good for you who may be accused of being too heavenly minded!
5. Lewis says, because we were made for another world, not even the best marriage, the best vacation, or the best job can truly satisfy. There are three ways of dealing with this truth.
A. What is the fool’s way? – blame the things (the person you’re married to, the vacation, the job) themselves. The fool does not understand that things will never deliver the fulfillment he longs for. He will go from person to person, job to job….and be bored and disillusioned his whole life.
B. What is the disillusioned man’s way? – lower your expectations. This is the stoic approach to happiness. Lewis says it’s not all that bad, if you don’t believe in eternity….it’s better than the fool’s way. The reasoning is that when you’re young, you’re full of hopes, expectations, and dreams. When you mature and grow older, you put away such things and settle down into reality.
C. What is the Christian way? – earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy our deepest desires, but only to point us to the real thing. They are only a kind of copy, echo, or mirage. The goal is to press on to that other country and help others do the same.
6. What does Lewis say about the symbols God uses for heaven? (For those who were with us when we studied Isaiah’s view of heaven – how do you see heaven?)
I’m embarrassed to say I can’t remember much about our previous study of heaven….but I think we discovered things like there is going to be a new heaven and a new earth; this earth that we see will be all made new, so heaven is not floating about in the clouds in some misty, ethereal place. That is a relief to me. I just wonder, where are all the people who have died and “go to heaven” now? I often wonder, because I usually look up to the sky when I think of heaven, if there is some real place that we can’t see with our eyes, but may be much closer than we think. A sort of “parallel world”….maybe that idea comes from a book I read to my kids called The Wind Boy, in which only two children were able to see into the “clearer world”….the world inhabited by the Wind Boy and his companions. They were really right there, but other people, except these two, couldn’t see them.
Lewis’ explanation of the scriptural imagery of harps, crowns, gold, etc….is very logical and a relief to me. Most evangelicals seem to interpret these things literally, that we will actually lay real crowns at the feet of Jesus, or really walk on streets of gold. I prefer grass myself, or a nice sandy beach! Lewis says that crowns represent sharing in God’s splendor and power. Gold represents the timelessness of heaven. Musical instruments and the music they make represent ecstasy and infinity.
7. Read or listen to Chapter 11 of Book 3 and comment:
Lewis says that Faith can simply mean belief in a set of doctrines, but it is also a virtue. A virtue is something that must be practiced, and Lewis says first that it is not true that if the human mind once accepts a thing as true, it will automatically go on regarding it as true. Lewis had assumed that the mind was ruled entirely by reason. He shows that it is not: “The battle is between faith and reason on one side, and emotion and imagination on the other.”
In times of bad news, or when we are in trouble, or living among a lot of other people who do not believe as we do, our emotion will rise up and carry out an attack on our beliefs. Or, we will have moments when we want something that goes against our beliefs and will want to lie or cheat or steal, and again, our emotions will war against our beliefs. So faith “is the act of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.”
Practicing faith as a virtue means that first, you recognize that your moods/emotions will change. The next step is, and here I think the apostle Paul is saying the same thing as Lewis is, just with different wording, “renew your mind”….Paul says not to be conformed to the mold of this world but to renew our minds, and we do that, as Lewis writes, by prayer, religious readings, and going to church. Lewis puts it like this: to be sure that every day you deliberately hold before your mind some of Christianity’s main doctrines.
Lewis says that people are not likely to be reasoned out of their faith, but rather they simply drift away.
8. On the one hand, faith does not seem hard, when the evidence is so great. Yet Lewis says there is a battle between faith and reason on one side and emotion and imagination on the other. What examples stand out to you from the ones he gave and why?
Knowing the facts about someone or some situation, but then my emotions come in and start to sway me; “It will be different this time, or he or she will be different this time”, when they prove again and again what they are really like. The example of living among a lot of people who don’t believe as you do also stood out, because that is my situation. Especially when they are people you love, and want to be close to; it plays on the emotions and I can start to drift. And yes, I can think of a lot of examples of when I’ve wanted to do something that I know is a sin, and it would be very convenient at that moment if Christianity were not true.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
Dee, Door Country is beautiful! And thank you for sharing pictures of the grandkids. They are precious!
The quote from Lewis “ If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the probable experience is that I was made for another world.”
I have yet to say of any experience on this earth, that I am fully satisfied.
2. What echo of Eden have you experienced this week?
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, Revelation 7:9
I was at a teacher’s conference out of town Saturday-Wednesday this week and was trying to heal from a respiratory infection. Our 2 cohorts were mostly nurses. For dinner one evening, a fellow nurse teacher who is also a long time friend, took me under her wing and invited me to eat with her (an echo of God’s kindness). We decided on Golden Corral as she thought I would have food to choose from to whet my poor appetite. We were standing behind a family of three-a grandma, her daughter and granddaughter to pay ahead. We bantered around and joked about whose paying the meals. And the grandma piped, “we will pay for your dinner.” We, of course, thought she was just joking. But she sure did! (an echo of God’s generosity) We joined their table and had the best conversations ever around grandchildren, her child care business and their church!
My friend is black as well as this family of three. They looked average as well as we did. No pretense. I looked around and saw all the other “tribes and nations” represented there. And I thought, this will be like heaven, only even better. Including the food!
Fun story of Golden Corral.
4. Lewis contends that those who have their eyes fixed on the next world are of the most use in this world. How does Hebrews 11 support this? How have you seen this?
v. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Abraham’s example of obedience to the will of God is based on a future look for the next world.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
The disappointments and sorrows I often experience confirm in my heart the futility of living for this life.
I start seeing life in eternity’s perspective rather than what is here on earth.
9. How do you see this happening in your heart when you are tried by trials or when God’s will seems hard?
I resort to to doing things that ultimately hurt myself, eat too much, talk rudely to others, work too much, drink too much wine, etc.
10. This chapter seems to boil down to our good works versus total grace from God. He says that it isn’t a choice of one or the other, more of a both idea. We do good works because we reflect Jesus in our lives and we are saved by grace alone because He took our sin on the cross.
Interesting that Lewis brings up my contention of grace…that if we are saved what’s to stop us from winning over and over because we know we are forgiven? He also answers that by saying that if we ignore what Christ like behavior looks like then we can’t reflect Him, right? It is a circle as Lewis uses so often in his writing if this book!
Not “winning,” but “sinning!” Stupid autocorrect!
11. Do you feel, as Lewis asks, that you have reached the point where you truly realize you can do nothing apart from God?
I do think I am close to this point, but in the back of my head I’m still wondering where He is in many situations where I feel I need His help. These are times when I take charge of the scene and forget who really is in control. I do think I worry less these days as compared to before submitting (mostly) completely to Him. Much of this submission had to do with Dee’s book Idol Lies.
12. How do you explain the relationship between faith and works using Ephesians 2:8-9?
The bible clearly says that we are saved by grace; there is nothing we can do to change that other than disbelieve that Christ came, was crucified and died for our sins, and rose again to be with God. I do think it is natural to want to live lives “right” with God once we submit to His rule. This is where we will do good works, but not to make a name for ourselves, to be Christ like. If we try to be Christ like and expect accolades, we are really not living right with God.