Our Story

How should we look at life? I am convinced that are our life is a tale composed and executed by God. Also, that it is part of a larger cosmic tale, a tale that those who trust in Christ have been given an overview of in Scripture. Our story is woven into the larger story of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. But there are other ways to view life. We can see it as a grand resort hotel, where we expect all our needs to be met and if they are not, we complain to the management. Or we can see it as a prison, some place where we are trapped and must wait with fortitude and clinched jaw until someday we are released. It can be regarded as an endless treadmill of meaningless tasks that we do because it is what is required of us. And how we see life will affect how we live it. Scripture tells us that God is in control of the world, working all things according to the council of His will (Ephesians 1:11). It also says God is in control of our individual lives, working all things together for good (Romans 8:28). All this is so that He can carry out His purpose in our lives (Ephesians 2:10). But in order for us to properly carry out His purpose in our lives, we need the assistance of the Author.   

Jesus said that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). But He, through His Spirit, is at work in our lives to transform us and accomplish His purposes in the world (2 Corinthians 3:18, Philippians 2:13; Colossians 1:29). Therefore, we must trust in Him to accomplish this (Proverbs 3:5,6; Psalms 127:1,2; 2 Corinthians 3:5,6). To do this He assists us in our prayer (Romans 8:26,27), bestows on us gifts to enable us to carry out His ministry (Romans 12:3-8), and brings us through our difficulties to ultimate victory (2 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:37). But this does not mean it will always be easy. Rather, we are told to expect problems (John 16:33; Acts 14:22). But these sufferings are put in perspective by what we know of the end of the story (Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17,18; Revelation 21:4). But it comes back to, how do we view life? If we see it as a resort hotel, then even relatively minor problems can be devastating. If we see it as a dungeon, they become one more torture to make us grit our teeth and try to endure it. If life is a treadmill, then they become a huge weight, liable to make us stumble and fall off the machine. But if life is a story, these difficulties become one more challenge to overcome on our journey through life to our final destination. And we know how the story ends. How do you view life?

Blind Spots

All of us have blind spots. And even those who honestly try to follow God can fall into them. Jehoshaphat was a good king (2 Chronicles 17:3-6; 19:3; 1 Kings 22:43). He sent officials to  teach the people the Law of God and judge disputes (2 Chronicles 17:7-9; 19:4-11). He trusted God in times of trouble (2 Chronicles 20:5-25; 18:31; 2 Kings 3:11-20). But he allied with King Ahab, and he married his son to Ahab’s and Jezebel’s daughter (2 Chronicles 18:1; 19:2; 1 Kings 22:44). He joined Ahab and his sons in many questionable ventures (2 Chronicles 18:2,3; 20:35-37; 2 Kings 3:7). This resulted in great evil for the kingdom of Judah (2 Chronicles 21:4-7; 22:1-4; 2 Kings 11:1-3). How then do we avoid our blind spots?

We need to be humble enough to recognize we are vulnerable and need God to reveal our weak points to us (1 Corinthians 10:12-14; Psalms 19:12-14; 1 Timothy 6:11). We must remember that we are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 4:4,5; Philippians 3:9), and although God is at work in us (2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:13), we still have a long way to go in becoming the people God wants us to be (Philippians 3:12-16; Romans 7:14-18; Galatians 5:17). I am convinced that one of the great dangers for a Christian is believing we have it all together, which leaves us open to be blindsided. Pride and self-righteousness can easily set us up for a fall (Proverbs 16:18; 1 Peter 5:5-10; James 4:6-10).

It is easy to become conformed to the world’s standards and to let them determine our behavior (Romans 12:1,2; 1 John 2:15-17; James 4:4). This can often result in our doing the wrong thing from good intentions, because we have adopted a worldly standard of values. We are constantly bombarded with the world’s messages. And we do not want to totally withdraw, for we want to be able to reach others for Christ (1 Corinthians 9:19-23; Matthew 9:10-13; Luke 19:1-10). But it is difficult to associate with people and not fall into their point of view (1 Corinthians 15:33; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Colossians 2:8). This was the problem that resulted in Jehoshaphat’s family; by marrying into Ahab and Jezebel’s family, they fell into their mindset. But I wonder if one of the things that caused this in the first place was picking up the world’s idea of what was a good political alliance. We do not know what Jehoshaphat’ s motive was, but it is easy to become confused and see the wrong move as a good idea. To avoid this we need to be grounded in God’s Word (Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16,17). We also need to be in fellowship with other Christians who can steer us back to the right path when we get off it (Hebrews 10:24.25; 12:12-13; Proverbs 27:17).  For all of us are sinners, and we need ways to continually correct our blind spots.

Salvation Grounded in Suffering

“Nothing shall be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). This is the clear teaching of Scripture. But it is important we understand it. It does not necessarily mean everything will be easy or God will immediately solve all our problems for us. Sometimes we can see God as a kind of candy man in the sky, who will make us happy and make all the pain go away. It does not always work that way. Let us look in the context to see what is being promised. God is telling the young girl that she will become miraculously pregnant without a man (Luke 1:30-35). She risked losing her fiancé, if God had not intervened (Matthew 1:18-21). She almost certainly lost her reputation (John 8:41). Also, no sooner did this miraculous Son come of age than He began to act in strange and threatening ways (Luke 2:41-52; John 2:3-5; Mark 3:31-35). Then Mary ended up standing and watching as this Son died a criminal’s death in a very painful way (John 19:25-27). Well did Simeon prophecy concerning her that pain would pierce her soul (Luke 2:34,35). But that was not the end of the story.   

That death on a cross paid the price for sin for all who put their faith in Christ (1 Peter 2:24,25; Romans 3:21-31; Ephesians 2:1-9). Further, He demonstrated that the work was accomplished and death was conquered by rising from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Romans 4:25; 8:11). Mary lived to see the situation turn around (Acts 1:14), but it was a long, difficult journey. God has a plan for our lives (Ephesians 2:10; 1:11; Romans 8:28). But that plan may require us to go through trials and difficulties (2 Corinthians 4:17,18; John 16:33; Romans 8:18). Nonetheless, God will bring us through victorious (2 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:37; 1 Corinthians 15:56,57). But whether or not we actually see that, we need to trust God, that He is at work in our lives and in the world (Proverbs 3:5,6; Hebrews 11:13-16; Psalms 127:1,2).

God promises us joy in the Christian life (Philippians 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16; Romans 14:17), and this should be remembered. But it is also well that we remember that the salvation of the world was accomplished through suffering. The God of the universe humbled Himself and became a man to pay the price for our sins (Philippians 2:5-11; John 1:1-18; Hebrews 2:9-18). And there were other people like Mary who paid a price to bring this about. Is it therefore so surprising that God would require us today to go through sufferings to accomplish His will in our lives? But He promises to bring us through them to someday stand in His presence (Revelation 21:4; Ephesians 5:27; Philippians 3:20,21). Therefore, nothing shall be impossible with God.