“My childhood house had a vestibule. It’s a seldom-used word for a seldom-seen structure. Built onto the outside of a house, it serves as a halfway stop between outside and inside… When C.S. Lewis criticized secular writers, he snuck in an image: these writers did not ‘see this world as the vestibule of eternity.’ Allow that to soak in for a second. Imagine what it means. This world leads to another. It’s only temporary: a halfway stop, not a place to settle into. Our real destination lies elsewhere.” *
This passage in one of our recent evangelism class books made me pause and ponder. The chapter discusses using imagery as we share our faith with the yet-to-be-saved folks around us. Will your Bible study, small group material, meditation or prayer time produce something to pause and ponder today? What else might the Holy Spirit be waiting to teach us as we pray with open hearts? Will that insight inspire us to share our faith today?
This is reality: our life’s destination lies elsewhere. I love the images of our eternal home pictured in the lyrics I grew up with…
Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand; but I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand…
This world is not my home; I’m just a-passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue…
Do not shun the Savior’s love from up in glory, or you won’t be there to sing the gospel story; In my Father’s house are many mansions, if you’re true then to this land you’ll surely go…
O I want to see Him, look upon His face, there to sing forever of His saving grace. On the streets of Glory let me lift my voice; cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice…
When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory…
Beautiful images of a reality we all hope to share. Jesus said, “Whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life!” (John 5:24). If you believe Jesus, who will you share His message with today? If you don’t believe Him, perhaps you should pause and ponder His words deeply. For all of us, the decision to believe or not determines the trajectory of our future…for all eternity.
*Randy Newman, Mere Evangelism, 10 Insights from C.S. Lewis to Help You Share Your Faith, page 79.