Friday 22nd November 2024 marks the anniversary of the passing of one of the most beloved Christian thinkers and storytellers of the last century: C.S. Lewis. Many know him as the author of The Chronicles of Narnia—a delightful series where talking animals run the show (and give life advice)—but his faith journey and theological writings, like Mere Christianity and The Problem of Pain, have left a lasting legacy. Even decades later, his words continue to inspire readers to think, reflect, and find their way to the heart of God. So, what can we learn today, as we reflect on his life and work?
C.S. Lewis often spoke of living between two worlds—the seen and the unseen. In his book The Weight of Glory, he suggests that we are not quite ‘home’ yet, that these present days are but a shadow of the full reality we will come to know in eternity. He writes, ‘If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.’ It’s a thought that both comforts and challenges us as Christians.
Lewis was no stranger to pain and loss, having experienced the death of loved ones, including his mother at an early age, and later his wife, Joy Davidman, whose passing shook his faith to its core. And yet, he found hope in the midst of despair, teaching us that pain is not an end in itself—it can be the very instrument that draws us closer to God. In A Grief Observed, he wrestles with honest questions of loss, not with neat answers, but with faith that refuses to let go of God even in the darkest of times.
At the heart of Lewis’s message is this: God is not far away. Even in moments of difficulty, confusion, and doubt, God is present, walking with us. Lewis once said, ‘Hardship often prepares an ordinary person for an extraordinary destiny.’ And what’s more extraordinary than being a part of God’s Kingdom?
Today, on the anniversary of his passing, let’s be reminded: We walk in both the seen and the unseen. We live in this world, but we are citizens of another. And as Lewis put it, we are living in the Shadowlands, where one day, the shadows will give way to the full glories of eternity.
Reflection Verses
‘For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.’ – 2 Corinthians 4:17
‘But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.’ – Philippians 3:20
A Moment to Reflect
What ‘light and momentary troubles’ are you dealing with today? Can you lift your gaze to the horizon of eternity, knowing that these challenges are not the end, but part of a bigger story? Like C.S. Lewis, trust that God is with you in both the joy and the pain. Perhaps today, take a quiet walk and reflect on the beauty around you—signposts that point to the Creator who is always near.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the wisdom and witness of C.S. Lewis, whose words continue to guide us to Your truth. Help me to live with eyes fixed on eternity, yet with a heart fully engaged in this present world. In moments of pain or doubt, may I draw closer to You, trusting that You turn even hardship into glory. Keep my mind set on the reality that my true home is with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
