"The Weight of Glory"

My favorite essay ever written is “The Weight of Glory” by C.S. Lewis.

Every page pulsates with spiritual revelation and insight in an amazingly crisp, clear and convicting manner. Here he speaks of many of the truths that are so near and dear to my heart and heavenly vision.  The treasure store of divine wisdom and godly perspectives is as open, abundant and readily available for our benefit here as in anything I have ever read. It is a classic Christian masterpiece, able to bear the torch-light of truth into our hearts, lives, homes and communities if we will. Lewis’ timeless words, compassionate vision of Christianity, with his ability to marry the best of the human heart and mind for the glory of God is desperately needed in our day. What joyful discoveries there are here…poetic, principled and prophetic discoveries!

Here is a brief excerpt, enjoy!:

We should take “heavenly glory quite frankly in the sense of fame or good report. But not fame conferred by our fellow creatures –fame with God, approval or “appreciation” by God…this view is scriptural; nothing can eliminate from the parable the divine accolade, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

In the end that Face which is the delight or terror of the universe must be turned upon each of us with one expression or the other; either conferring glory inexpressible or inflicting shame that can never be cured or disguised.

I read the other day that the fundamental thing is how we think of God. By God Himself, it is not! How God thinks of us is not only more important, but infinitely more important…the promise of glory is the promise, almost incredible and only possible by the work of Christ, that some of us shall actually survive God’s inspection (judgment seat), find approval and shall please God. To please God…to be a real ingredient in Divine happiness…to be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a Father in a child –it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is!”