“Joy is the serious business of Heaven.”
Image credits：Aronsyne,”Lewis, age 48″,CC BY-SA 4.0,C.S.-Lewis – C. S. Lewis – Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- November 29, 1898 – November 22, 1963
- Born in Ireland
- Writer, scholar
- Had a major influence on fantasy literature and religious thought through his many works, including the Chronicles of Narnia series and The Poetics of Christianity
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Quote
“Joy is the serious business of Heaven.”
Explanation
In this quote, C. S. Lewis underscores the importance of joy as a central element of Heaven and the Christian understanding of the eternal life that awaits believers. Lewis suggests that joy is not a trivial or superficial emotion, but rather a deep, essential aspect of spiritual existence. In Heaven, joy is not only a natural outcome of being in the presence of God, but it is also the primary concern and purpose of the heavenly life. Lewis connects this joy to the ultimate fulfillment of human existence, where joy arises from communion with God and the fullness of life that comes from being in alignment with divine purpose. Heaven, in this view, is not just a place of peace or rest, but a place where the soul is fully alive, experiencing an eternal, profound joy that reflects the serious and transformative nature of divine reality.
Historically, this perspective comes from Lewis’s belief that human beings are created for eternal joy with God. In works like The Weight of Glory, Lewis wrote about the infinite and transcendent joy that awaits believers in Heaven, contrasting this divine joy with the fleeting pleasures of the material world. For Lewis, joy was not just an emotional reaction, but a spiritual calling, an expression of God’s glory that humanity is destined to partake in. This joy reflects the full redemption of human nature, where every longing and desire is fulfilled in God’s eternal presence.
In the modern context, this quote challenges many contemporary views of Heaven and the afterlife, where spiritual fulfillment is often viewed as a peaceful existence or rest from earthly troubles. Lewis’s insight invites us to reconsider Heaven not as a passive state, but as a dynamic place of joy, where human beings experience true freedom and purpose in the presence of God. This joy, which transcends earthly experiences of happiness, is not mere escapism but the culmination of the human spirit—something serious, eternal, and infinitely worth striving for. It encourages us to see joy as central to the Christian hope, shaping our perspective on life, suffering, and the promise of ultimate fulfillment.
