C.S. Lewis on God as Fuel

Energy drinks resurrection style

“God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on gasoline, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there.

There is no such thing. That is the key to history. Terrific energy is expended—civilizations are built up—excellent institutions devised; but each time something goes wrong. Some fatal flaw always brings the selfish and cruel people to the top and it all slides back into misery and ruin. In fact, the machine conks. It seems to start up all right and runs a few yards, and then it breaks down. They are trying to run it on the wrong juice.”  See Mere Christianity, pp. 53-54

The verses of Ephesians 1:20-22 strike us, catch us off guard. Paul rivets our attention on the power toward His own people. Christ’s power is for His people. Jesus’ power benefits His own. Here are the words: 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Paul highlights the work of Christ. With a trajectory—a direction of movement, we follow the verses from Christ’s resurrection to the church. “…He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand….. to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” There’s movement. Where does the movement go? It goes from Christ’s bodily resurrection to union with His people. The accomplishment of Christ must get to the church in order to be completed!

Mission Accomplished at Resurrection Central targets union with His people. Completion, wholeness, fulfillment of the work of Jesus means that He must be united to the church, connected to His people. It is just like a groom who remains incomplete if he remains detached from his bride. The head must be connected to the body.

“…He gave Him to be head over…[His body]…” There is power, power, wonder-working power…in the life-giving supply of Jesus via His resurrection. By faith in Christ we are joined to Him.

Are you in the life-giving resurrected Christ? Is He in you? Apart from Jesus Christ we can do nothing. We have no fuel. Our churches have no fuel. Our marriages have no fuel. The work of our hands has no fuel. Our towns and cities have no fuel.

To recast Lewis: God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

G. Mark Sumpter