Beyond

I think all Christians would agree with me if I said that though Christianity seems at the first to be all about morality, all about duties and rules and guilt and virtue, yet it leads you on, out of all that, into something beyond. One has a glimpse of a country where they do not talk of those things, except perhaps as a joke. Everyone there is filled full with what we should call goodness as a mirror is filled with light. But they do not call it goodness. They do not call it anything. They are not thinking of it. They are too busy looking at the source from which it comes. But this is near the stage where the road passes over the rim of our world. No one’s eyes can see very far beyond that: lots of people’s eyes can see further than mine. —C. S. Lewis, Daily Readings from His Classic Works

Lewis points to the experience of the beginnings of our Christian walk; we tend to think about the rules a lot, avoiding sin, trying to do good, and so on. As we become more conformed to the image of Christ, these things become more natural. At some point, we’re thinking of these things less, and focusing more on Christ Himself, the source of all goodness. Christianity isn't about rules, regulations, or morality, it's about Christ, and our relationship to and with Him. We are "good" (or at least as good as we can be) because of the work He does in us; not because of our obedience to rules, but because of who we are through Him.

As Lewis concludes this thought, he acknowledges that we’re all at different points in our maturation journey, some more closely conformed to Christ that he is. May you and I long today to be more conformed to His image, more responsive to His work within our hearts and lives, and more reflective of His glory! —DH