Sat 18 Mar 2006
Of Life and the Great Eucatastrophe
Written by Phaedrus at Avallónnë[5] Comments, Complaints, and/or Criticisms
Do you really believe this?
Of course, doctrinally most of us would ascribe to such a statement of belief, knowing what the Bible says about the eventual outcome of things. But my question is not about intellectual, cognitive truths; my question is about how Christians live their lives. How time and resources are allocated and prioritized, and what occupies our thoughts and prayers most frequently – these are the things that reveal what is in our hearts. Larry Richards called this the difference between isolated beliefs and operational beliefs: the former are things we know and verbalize; the latter are what influence and – too often – determine our behavior.
So I will ask again: Do you really believe that the world and life end in joy?
Ralph Wood, in his Introduction to The Gospel According to Tolkien, discusses Tolkien’s views about what constitutes good or real myth. He observes,
True fantasies end happily, thus providing consolation for life’s tragedy and sorrow. But their endings are not escapist. Their felicitous outcome is always produced by a dreadful disaster, by a drastic and unexpected turn of events, which issues in surprising deliverance. Tolkien calls this saving mishap a eucatastrophe: a happy calamity that does not deny the awful reality of dyscatastrophe - of human wreck and ruin. The ending of Tolkien’s book is immensely sad because Frodo is too exhausted by his struggle with evil to enjoy the fruits of his victory. Yet the miraculously violent turnabout – the final clash with Sauron that issues in his defeat – reveals that the ultimate truth is joy – ‘Joy beyond the walls of the world, poignant as grief’ (The Monsters and the Critics, 153″
Tolkien was convinced in the ultimate outcome of good and joy – of eucatastrophe – for the world in which we live. His conviction is reflected in the curious statement Gandalf makes to the bitter and despairing Denethor in the hall of the Steward of Gondor.
‘I will say this: the rule of no realm is mine, neither of Gondor nor any other, great or small. But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail of my task, though Gondor should perish, if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come. For I also am a steward. Did you not know?’”
There is something striking, terrifying, and remarkable in Gandalf’s statement. He says, in effect, that even if everything goes horribly wrong and their worst fears are realized, he will not consider himself to have failed if “anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come.” Gandalf 
can make such a statement because he knows the past and believes the future. Gandalf is a Maiar, an incarnate angel, one who existed before the creation of Earth. He has seen darkness and evil prevail for times in the past: he was there when Melkor disturbed the music of the Ainur, when Morgoth destroyed the Two Lights and then the Two Trees. Gandalf witnessed Sauron’s corruption of the kings of Númenor that resulted in the destruction of the island kingdom.
But Gandalf has also seen the chaining of Melkor and his final casting into the void by Illúvatar, and saw the undoing of Sauron’s reign in the the battle of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. Most importantly, Gandalf knows Illúvatar’s plans and the Last Battle that will bring about the end of the world. He knows that Illúvatar will prevail, not Melkor or Sauron or any other evil that may come into existence. Gandalf has no doubt about how the world ends: it ends in eucatastrophe, not despair.
There is also a remarkable humility to Gandalf’s statement. He was, after all, sent to Middle-earth to assist and encourage both men and elves in their battle against the evil of Sauron. He hoped, without doubt, in the eventual crowning of Aragorn as the rightful King of Gondor, and in the restoration of much that was corrupted by Sauron and Saruman. But his hopes and dreams are subject to the will of Illúvatar, and if it is God’s plan to have Gandalf’s mission result only in the survival of the merest of that which is good, then Gandalf will be content with that success. He is, as he said, only a steward sent to do the bidding of his Master.
Gandalf knew and believed in the final, eucatastrophic outcome because he was an angel and privileged to first-hand knowledge of things only reported to others. But others also believed – that is, they had faith – in the final joy of creation: elves such as Elrond, Galadriel, and Eärendil; men such as Aragorn and Faramir, along with the other Dúnedain. The decisions made by such people in Middle-earth were based on their assurance of things hoped for, on their convictions of things not seen, that good and joy are the final outcome of the world and life.
Christians know this, too, although we may at times forget it. We are told of the eucatastrophic ending of the world in Rev 21.1-5a:
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
2 “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
4 ‘and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.’
5 And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’”
If we truly believe that the world and life end in eucatastrophe – in joy – then our decisions and priorities every day will reflect that conviction. Our isolated beliefs will become our operating beliefs. We will not despair – since, as Gandalf says, despair is only for those who know the outcome of all things – but will rejoice and choose to do that which is good and right. Decisions will be based not on expediency nor pragmatism, but on the truths and principles given to us by God. He knows the beginning and end. And He knows the outcome is one of eucatastrophe, not despair. He is in control; He is omnipotent: His final purposes cannot and will not be foiled.
The Christian’s life should reflect that immutable fact.
Namárië.
As Christians we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies. We have every reason and confidence in Him to live a life of joy, even in the midst of trials. These verses come to mind as I reflect upon my reasons for joy, for it resides in the purposes and plan of my Sovereign King:
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
I immediately thought Romans 8:28! Great post.
Dear Mike,
You quote: If we truly believe that the world and life end in eucatastrophe – in joy – then our decisions and priorities every day will reflect that conviction. Our isolated beliefs will become our operating beliefs. We will not despair – since, as Gandalf says, despair is only for those who know the outcome of all things – but will rejoice and choose to do that which is good and right. Decisions will be based not on expediency nor pragmatism, but on the truths and principles given to us by God. He knows the beginning and end. And He knows the outcome is one of eucatastrophe, not despair. He is in control; He is omnipotent: His final purposes cannot and will not be foiled.
The Christian’s life should reflect that immutable fact.
“If we truly believe!” Where is the conviction, where is this kind of conviction in the church today I ask? This was a great post and I can see you preach with conviction, devout belief and passion. For you know the Word of God and have grown strong in it, but how many in the church today know the Word so well? How many in the church today see the Bible as Gods objective, inspired, infallible and inerrant word? How many people in the church today have even read and understand the book of revelations?
I’m afraid in our post-modern times, we will witness more and more pulpits growing silently cold when it comes to proclaiming a Sovereign and Holy God who is working out a perfect plan that ends with a real judgement and a real heaven. For those of us who “really” believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will “really” be able to live in eternity with our Heavenly Father.
William Hendriksen says this in his book “More Then Conquerors†– “We have reached the final and most beautiful theme. There is a beautiful connection between the first book of the Bible and the last. Scripture resembles a flower. We find the seed in Genesis, the growing plant in the books which follow, the fully developed and beautiful flower in the Apocalypse. Observe the following comparison. Genesis tells us that God created heaven and earth. Revelation describes the new heaven and earth. In Genesis the luminaries are called into being: sun, moon and stars. In Revelation we read: ‘And the city has no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God lightened it, and its lamp is the Lamb.’ Genesis describes a paradise which was lost. Revelation pictures a paradise restored. Genesis describes the cunning and power of the devil. The Apocalypse tells us that the devil was bound and hurled into the lake of fire and brimstone. Genesis pictures that awful scene of man fleeing away from God and hiding himself from the presence of the Almighty. Revelation shows us the most wonderful and intimate communion between God and redeemed man: ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall tabernacle with them.’ Finally, whereas Genesis shows us the tree of life, with an angel to keep the way to the tree of life, ‘lest man put forth his hand and take of its fruit’, the Apocalypse restores to man his right to have access to it: ‘that they may have the right to come to the tree of life.’ Behold, we are more then conquerors, for not only are we delivered from the greatest curse, indeed from every curse, but we obtain the most glorious blessing besides.â€
Louis Berkhof says this in his systematic: The reward of the righteous is described as eternal life, that is, not merely an endless life, but life in all its fullness, without any of the imperfections and disturbances of the present. The fullness of this life is enjoyed in communion with God, which face to face, will find full satisfaction in Him, will rejoice in Him, and will glorify Him. We should not think of the joys of heaven, however, as exclusively spiritual. There will be something corresponding to the body. There will be recognition and social intercourse on an elevated plane. It is also evident from Scripture that there will be degrees in the bliss of heaven. Our good works will be the measure of our gracious reward, though they do not merit it. Notwithstanding this, however, the joy of each individual will be perfect and full.
So I say yes and amen, if we truly believed this and understood this as a very real “reality†for our future and sons and daughters of the one true living God, then I do believe that we would have much more of a desire and willingness to act out our faith in good deeds, loving our brethren and preaching the gospel to a lost world. I say, let us embrace these truths once again in the seminaries and churches and preach it and lead it with a conviction of the reality of our eternal reward.
Justification by grace through faith in Christ alone.
Dave
Mike, good new blog. Glad to see you are writing about something that really interests you. Now that I have taken a real job, I have very little time, but hopefully I can continue making progress on my novel.
Blessings.
Bill (wg)
Amen. Beautiful post, Mike.