A point of view

Fifty years after his death, C. S. Lewis was memorialized with a stone in the floor of Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey. Chiseled into the stone is one his most quoted sentences: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else.” [C. S. Lewis, “Is Theology Poetry,” They Asked for a Paper (London: Geoffrey Bles, 1962), 165].

I have long admired Lewis’ communication and his wonderful skill with language. What a concise way of capturing St. Paul’s encouragement for the renewal of one’s mind (Romans 12:2) or having the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5), or quite simply being a new creation because you are in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17).

Having been redeemed by the blood of Christ Jesus shed on the cross we are called to a different understanding or vision of the creation. It is not simply a place to stand with various entities to be used or consumed. This is our Father’s world over which He has called us to stewardship. Likewise, the people around us are no mere mortals. They are the children God would redeem to Himself and love throughout eternity.