This chapter titled Longing and Hope really tied in the article that Lewis wrote titled No Right to Happiness. I say that because the first chapter of Cornelius Plantinga’s book discusses complete satisfaction and essentially complete happiness. Plantinga and C.S. Lewis have the same view that complete fulfillment cannot be found on earth. Chapter one does mention that there are much happiness on earth but that nothing can make a human completely happy except when we are reunited with Christ upon the second coming. Some example Plantinga give are having the joy of a marriage, a happy family, or a good career.
The one example that stuck with me throughout the reading was that of marriage. I have just recently become married and that is a happiness I never could have imagined yet I am still not completely satisfied. My marriage is great and as both my husband and I strive to keep our marriage God centered I think that makes it even more fulfilling.
There was a quote early on in the chapter that really got me thinking about happiness. It was when Plantinga said
Even if we fall deeply in love and marry another human being, we discover that our spiritual and sexual oneness isn’t final. It’s wonderful, but not final. It might even be as good as human oneness can be, but something in us keeps saying 'not this' or 'still beyond.'”The human oneness that the quote mentions really resonates with me because I do feel that intimate oneness with my husband every day we are together. It makes me think of Revelation 21:2 which says
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.I think of my wedding day and walking down the aisle toward my future husband. As I looked at his face his eyes were glistening with tears of joy. His joy was for our marriage and for the little glimpse of the joy God will feel upon the second coming. Our uniting in marriage gives us the picture of our eternity with Jesus.
As we discussed in class there is no full fulfillment of happiness on earth, but all humans try to find it anyway. I understood from the chapter that we should daily focus on our future fulfillment with Christ and not on our earthly happiness. Even though it is great to have earthly happiness, such as that which I have found in my new marriage, we do not need to think that our happiness is complete or that is can be completed before Christ returns. Focusing on heavenly things instead of earthly things will bring us much more joy than focusing on finding complete happiness on earth.
Abigail, this is so refreshing to hear. I also just got married in August, and the joy that comes from being married is a true gift. Also, it is so amazing to be able to share your faith with another human being. The best thing I have found about being married is that I have someone who wants to grow in Christ as much as I do, however like you said it is still not everthing. The joy of eternity is still missing. That void can only be filled by God, but having a spouse that is willing to take that journey with you is another type of blessing that God has given us to draw us to him.
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