In C.S. Lewis's "The Great Divorce," we encounter a powerful allegory of the human condition. Shadowy figures from a grey, dreary land board a bus to a vibrant paradise. Yet upon arrival, they find themselves unable to fully experience or enjoy this new realm. The grass feels sharp, the light overwhelmingly bright. These souls, accustomed to the dim existence of their former home, struggle to adapt to the intense reality of true life.

This story serves as a striking metaphor for our spiritual journey. Many of us live in a kind of shadowland, curved inward upon ourselves, trapped in what St. Augustine called "Homo Incurvatus In Se" – man turned in on himself. We exist in a state of pride and self-reliance, falling short of the glory for which we were created.

But there is hope. Just as the messengers in Lewis's tale call out to the shadowy souls, offering a path to faith and life, we too are called to turn away from curving in upon ourselves. This call isn't merely about apologizing for past misdeeds; it's a call to completely renounce our old identity and reject our deepest, misguided desires.

The apostle Paul, writing to Titus, echoes this theme. He describes himself as a "slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ," existing "for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness" (Titus 1:1). This seemingly simple introduction encapsulates a whole mission – to call people not only to faith (a life of humble dependence upon God) but to a life of godliness (a real life — out of the shadowlands).

Paul's self-designation as a slave of Christ might seem jarring to our modern sensibilities. Yet it highlights a crucial truth: true freedom is found not in independence, but in complete dependence on God. It is not slavery to be dependent upon oxygen to breath. In the same way, dependence upon Christ is essential—we cannot exist with hope or meaning or redemption or purpose without Him. The world often sells us a false bill of goods, promising that unbridled freedom to do whatever we want will lead to fulfillment. But as Paul argues elsewhere, this so-called freedom often becomes its own form of slavery:

"For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." (Romans 7:15)

"Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24)

Have you ever felt trapped by your own desires or habits? Have you experienced the frustration of wanting to change but feeling powerless to do so? This is the slavery from which Christ offers liberation.

The path to this liberation begins with faith. Paul emphasizes that his entire ministry exists "for the sake of faith." This isn't just any faith, but a faith grounded in truth and leading to godliness. It's a faith that transforms our very being, reorienting us from self-centeredness to God-centeredness. A faith that is validated by a life of change, self-control, and godliness.

We are, whether we acknowledge it or not, creatures of belief. Every action, every decision, stems from some core conviction about the nature of reality and our place in it. The question isn't whether we believe, but what we believe. And as Paul reminds us, what we believe matters eternally.

This is why the truth is so crucial. Faith doesn't arise in a vacuum; it comes "from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). The gospel must be preached, taught, and declared. In a world full of competing narratives and enticing lies, we need the solid ground of truth to stand upon.

But here's the critical part: this truth must "accord with godliness." It's not enough to simply accumulate knowledge or engage in endless theological debates. True faith, rooted in genuine truth, inevitably produces fruit in our lives. As James would later write, "faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:17).

This doesn't mean we earn our salvation through good deeds. Rather, it means that authentic faith naturally leads to a transformed that is marked by them. The grace of God not only saves us but trains us "to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age" (Titus 2:12).

We're called to examine our lives through the lens of faith and the validating fruits of that faith. Are there areas where our actions contradict our professed beliefs? Do we claim to believe in a gospel of grace yet treat others harshly? Do we proclaim forgiveness while harboring resentment? Do we speak of God's power but live defeated by sin?

The good news is that the truth sets us free. Not free to do whatever we want, but free to become who we were always meant to be. We're liberated to call Jesus Lord, to cling to Him as branches to a vine, drawing life and vitality from our connection to Him.

This journey from shadow to light isn't just for our own benefit. Like Paul, we're called to live "for the sake of the faith of others." We are to be messengers calling out to the shadowy figures still trapped in the grey lands of unbelief. We speak the truth, trusting that God will grant the grace of salvation. And we live the truth, our transformed lives serving as evidence of the gospel's power.

May we, like those messengers in Lewis's tale, stand at the border between shadow and light, calling others to faith and godliness. And may our own lives testify to the power of the gospel.