Made for Another World

The Christian Virtue of Hope

C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, powerfully articulates the virtue of hope—one of the three theological virtues (1 Corinthians 13:13). He argues that hope is not escapism but a call to fix our eyes on eternity while faithfully engaging in this present world. Christians who have accomplished the most in history were precisely those who longed most for heaven. Their lives were anchored in the reality that they were made for another world, and this hope fueled their work on earth.

Hope: The Anchor for Our Souls

The Bible describes hope as an anchor, keeping us steadfast in the midst of life’s storms:

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.” (Hebrews 6:19-20)

Hope is not wishful thinking; it is a confident expectation rooted in Christ. It is the certainty that what God has promised, He will fulfill. This is why Paul exhorts us:

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:2-3)

When our gaze is fixed on eternity, we live with purpose, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).

The Problem of Misplaced Longing

Lewis identifies two wrong ways of dealing with the deep longings within us:

1. The Fool’s Way—constantly chasing new experiences, relationships, or achievements, hoping that this time, they will satisfy the elusive longing. But as Ecclesiastes says:

“Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

2. The Disillusioned Sensible Man—giving up on hope altogether, settling for mediocrity and suppressing the longing for something greater. Jesus warns against this mindset:

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36)

Both paths lead to emptiness. But there is a third way—the Christian way.

A Desire That Points Beyond This World

Lewis argues that our deepest desires are not a mistake; they point to a reality beyond this world. As he says, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

Scripture confirms this truth:

“He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

God has placed within us a longing that no earthly pleasure can satisfy. The good things of this world—marriage, career, travel—are but echoes of something greater, reflections of our true home.

Pressing On Toward Our True Country

Paul understood this longing well:

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

Christians are called to live with a pilgrim mindset, pressing on toward our true home (Hebrews 11:13-16). This does not mean neglecting our responsibilities on earth. Instead, it means engaging in this world with the assurance that our true inheritance is in heaven (1 Peter 1:3-4).

The Call to Live in Hope

Hope transforms how we live today. It calls us to persevere, to love sacrificially, to serve with joy, and to proclaim the gospel boldly. Paul reminds us:

“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” (Romans 8:24-25)

The Christian life is one of longing and expectation. But one day, that longing will be fully satisfied. As Lewis reminds us, we must not let our desire for our true home get “snowed under or turned aside.” Instead, we must make it the main object of our lives to press on toward that country—and to help others do the same.

A Glorious Inheritance Awaits

Our hope is not in a dream but in a Person—Jesus Christ. He has prepared a place for us (John 14:2-3), and one day, He will return to make all things new (Revelation 21:1-5). Until then, we live in eager expectation, knowing that what is coming far surpasses anything we have ever longed for.

So let us live with our hearts set on heaven, knowing that when we aim at heaven, we will get earth “thrown in”—but when we aim only at earth, we will lose both.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

Soli Deo Gloria