Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Bus to the Great Beyond (6)

We’ve been following the adventure of a writer who in a dream boards a bus on a drizzly afternoon and embarks on an incredible voyage through Heaven and Hell. This will be our concluding scene from The Great Divorce. The writer is concerned about all those souls (ghosts) who never even ride the bus to heaven – are they doomed to hell? Heavenly citizen George MacDonald (thus the older style English) replies to his question.
jet-bus-flying-on-water    ‘But what of the poor Ghosts who never get into the omnibus at all?’
    ‘Everyone who wishes it does. Never fear. There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.” All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. To those who knock it is opened.’

C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce (1946, Harper Collins edition 2001) 75.
Posted by Ken Symes at 5:10 AM

2 comments:

  1. Ken SymesOctober 5, 2010 at 4:46 PM

    There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.” All that are in Hell, choose it.

    Classic Lewis! This was one of his great gifts. He summarizes a very complicated matter in just one short contrast! Like I said, Jack really knew how to serve up a powerful jolt of java! Think that above quote through will really wake you up!

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  2. AnonymousOctober 5, 2010 at 7:54 PM

    It is interesting how many people blame God for sending people to hell. Lewis nailed it "all that are in hell choose it" I take it from his comments that Lewis believes in a literal fire and brimstone hell burning forever. I lean towards a separation from God at death for all eternity. Any takers on hell? Gary

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