Weighty Weight of Glorious Glory

As C.S. Lewis discusses "the weight of glory," he comes to express the idea that the promise of glory is that some of us may receive God’s approval, on no merit of our own but by the work Jesus Christ. "To please God... to be a real ingredient in the 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 son - it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is" (6, emphasis mine). This idea does indeed seem very nearly impossible to comprehend to me. And yet, I find that it is in fact the core desire of all people, is it not? The desire to be loved and accepted that ultimately exceeds the satisfaction derived from friendships and deep relationships is central to all non-Christ-centered world religions and all inter-personal relationships. But earthy pursuits never satisfy.

C. S. Lewis paints this word-picture of God examining us and, if we so choose to allow Christ to intervene on our behalf and by Christ’s power, us actually surviving this examination and pleasing God. For it is not how we think of God that matters, but what He thinks of us. How often do we go through our lives, complacent to think well of God as we gain knowledge of Him?  For complacency is being self-satisfied without awareness of potential danger. In the scope of our churches, how often do our fellow congregants become satisfied in this dangerous way of thinking – that what we think of God is most important? How can the worship leaders in such a church aid in turning this view toward a right way of thinking?