The Great Divorce, by C.S. Lewis

Over the course of the next few weeks, C.S. Lewis’ classic book will be examined in preparation for a book review at the end of October. The subject of Good vs. Evil, Heaven vs. Hell, is a subject that can fill bookshelves and yet defy an overwhelming conclusion. Like Lewis himself, we will through caution to the wind and jump in to the deep-end of this subject, using his journey through both Heaven and Hell as our guide.

Lewis describes his intention for The Great Divorce in its Preface, stating that his work will bring the reader on a journey that is quite intentionally a fantasy, but a fantasy with a moral. Lewis clearly presents his case that good and evil are available to all; and with evil seemingly lurking around the next corner the choice for the good is an intention that requires personal attention and faithful (and courageous) practice. I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words of encouragement to the Philippians, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Phil 2:12b-13) We are not alone, for “it is God who is at work in you” but we are not passively waiting for some external improvement…no reclining back like we are at the dentist’s office waiting for the pearly white crown to be placed over the ugliness of what lies beneath; this is the real road of discipleship.

Lewis makes us want to pursue that road by ensuring that the wisdom of the journey will bring us into God’s presence. He writes that for those who have sought the Reign of God and have finally come to know the glory of God at the journey’s end, their wisdom can be only known from the journey’s far end: “In that sense it will be true for those who have completed the journey (and for no others) to say that good is everything and Heaven everywhere. But we, at this end of the road, must not try to anticipate that retrospective vision. If we do, we are likely to embrace the false and disastrous converse and fancy that everything is good and everywhere is Heaven.” (Preface, pg. IX)

And so our journey with C.S. Lewis through both Heaven and Hell begins and his insights of good vs. evil through his story of fantasy promises to enlighten us in the days ahead. As Paul prayed for the Philippians, so we pray, “that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.” (Phil 1:9-11)