Scripture reading: Luke 15:11–32

My Place in HIStory

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. (Psalm 139:16, NLT)

 

Everybody loves a story. Young and old, literate and illiterate, rich and poor, male and female, extrovert and introvert—we are all immediately captured by the words, “Once upon a time . . .” Whether told at bedtime, in a novel or in a movie theater, stories speak to the deepest yearnings of our hearts. Something within comes alive when a story is told. We suddenly find ourselves caught up in a drama, taking sides, playing a role, getting involved. The adventure, the risk, the romance, the danger, the betrayal, the heroism . . . it’s all there as the story unfolds.

In Waking the Dead, John Eldredge points out that all great stories have certain ingredients in common. Whether we are talking about Lord of the Rings, The Wizard of Oz, Star Wars, The Matrix, or Sleeping Beauty, we see the following three elements  in prominent display:

,. Things are not what they seem. Neo, Dorothy, Frodo, Luke Skywalker . . . each must come to grips with the fact that reality is not what it appears to be. We’re not in Kansas anymore. The only characters that are truly interesting are those who realize that there is more going on than meets the eye.

,. There is a battle going on. All the good stories tell us that some great strug- gle, quest, or battle is in progress. Destinies are hanging in the balance. Nine Black Riders have already been dispatched to capture the ring. Darth Vader is plotting to control the universe. If someone doesn’t oppose the forces of evil, all will be lost.

,. The destiny of the world hangs on how one character will respond. Strangely enough, the future of the world hinges on characters with names like Dorothy, Frodo, Luke and Neo. Unlikely heroes, these men and women awake to the discovery that their choices affect the destiny of the world.

All the good stories are, in reality, echoes of the Great Story. The Story of all Stories is found in the Bible, which tells us the unfolding cosmic drama of redemption. God himself is the Author. Things are not what they seem. There is a battle going on. And the destiny of the world hangs in the balance as characters with names like Abraham, Moses, Esther, David, Nehemiah, Peter, and Paul decide how they will respond. This story is bigger than you ever imagined. It started before creation and will end only when the kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of our Lord. It encompasses all of human history: in fact, the story is HIStory. But you need to understand that this story is not fiction. This story is real. And the most startling thing of all is that God has written you into the script! The only question is this: Will your life make a difference for good in the cosmic drama being played out?

We find our true significance in life only when we discover our place in HIStory. What a relief it is to learn that God is the author of the script for my life, not me! So, if today you find yourself struggling with your identity and purpose, let me make a suggestion: Stop trying to make God fit into your story; instead, start finding your place in his!

 

But for them it was only the beginning of the real story.

All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia

had only been the cover and the title page:

now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story

which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever:

in which every chapter is better than the one before.—C. S. Lewis

 

point to ponder • God is the Author of human history.

prayer focus • Someone you know who has not yet found his/her place in HIStory.