My Story of 75 Years
There’s no denying it: today I turn 75 years old.
I’ll quote an excerpt from my New Morning Mercies entry from today: “I have walked with the Lord and studied his Word for many, many years; longer than I would like to admit. Over the years, I have gained a high level of biblical literacy and a solid understanding of the theology of the Word of God. I have surely grown in my faith. I have an understanding of the glories of redeeming grace that I did not have for many of my years as God’s child. I have been involved in many ministry enterprises in many locations.”
But I must admit that I have also gotten lost in the middle of my story many times—more times than I would like to admit. There have been moments when, despite all that I know and have seen, I have lost my gospel mind. I lost my sense of direction, I lost my sense of identity, and I lost my remembrance of him.
So today, I want to remind myself and you of God’s Story. It’s a rather lengthy poetic meditation, but it’s a needed and timely reminder.
Since God has already granted me and you a place in his Eternal Story, then he has also granted us all the grace we need along the way for our Right Here, Right Now Story—otherwise, we’d never get there.
“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31–32).
Since he paid the ultimate price, we can rest assured he will expend his divine power and grace to protect, mature, provide for, and keep us until we are with him in a place where the dangers of sin and death are no more.
Yes, we will get temporarily lost in the middle of that story today and tomorrow, but God will keep and protect us until we are with him forever—whenever that day may come.
***
Everyone builds their life on a
story,
a grand narrative
that interprets and explains
history
identity
future
family
purpose
God
meaning
morality
work
desire
need
hope
and every other thing the mind can
conceive.
Everyone’s life is shaped by
story:
the story our parents told us
the story we tell ourselves
the story of our culture
the story we learn from
philosophers
poets
preachers
writers
directors
theologians
politicians
bosses
protestors
painters
grandmothers.
Some stories are
incomplete
some stories are a
lie
some stories are a
fantasy
some stories are
true
some stories give
wisdom
some stories attract
fools.
Stories have the power to
captivate and control us
deceive and destroy us
enthrall and motivate us
rescue and restore us
define and identify us
humble and humanize us
guide and direct us
confront and warn us
frighten and paralyze us
enlighten and instruct us
help or harm us.
You have a grand influential
story
you tell it to yourself
again and again
in search of answers
in moments of celebration
in the darkness of grief
when you’re lost and lonely
when life is hard
in failure’s darkness
in a quest for hope
to reconcile the past
to understand the future
when decisions loom
when lost in the middle.
We are all very good story
tellers
but
there is one Story that stands
above
every other story that has been
written or told:
Drama of sin and redemption
This is the one complete Story
spanning from before
origins
to beyond destiny.
It is the old, old Story
told by
saints and sinners
kings and scoundrels
giving life to the
weak and strong
rich and poor
young and old
to those celebrating and those
grieving
sinners and slaves
religious and agnostics
hopeful ones and those who’ve given up
hope.
It is the only Story that has the power to
rescue and redeem
to save and sanctify
to crush death and give life
to renew and restore
to make the blind see
to put humility where pride once lived
to replace idolatry with worship
to reconcile the past and secure the future
to replace selfishness with gratitude
to join sinners with God.
The great transcendent Story
begins in the annals of
eternity
the Trinity laying down the great
eternal plan:
Drama of sin and redemption
This Story bursts into
reality
as God creates everything out of
nothing
placing perfect image bearers
in a perfect Garden
in perfect relationship with
him
every need supplied
every duty and boundary
clear
serpentine temptation came
spewing lies
distorting God’s character
and will
man and woman eat what was
forbidden
sin shatters shalom
nakedness apparent
fearful hiding
accusations fly
divine judgment
curses on the earth
pain
toil
thorns
death
human rebellion met with
divine grace
promise of a
Redeemer
seed of the woman to crush the
tempter’s head:
Drama of sin and redemption
Sin increases
God grieves
waters of judgment
flood the earth
covenant with Noah
and with Abram
blessing the whole earth
God takes a people for
himself:
Drama of sin and redemption
Slavery in Egypt
plagues liberate
Passover mercy
law revealed
waters part
clouds and fire guide
manna feeds
tabernacle presence
priests and sacrifices
walls crumble
giants defeated
whales obey
dreams revealed
judges, prophets, priests, and
kings
temple built
unfaithful people
faithful God
idolatry mars his nation
prophet’s warning
Jerusalem crumbles
Babylonian discipline
no final condemnation
God faithful to the redeeming
plan
remnant preserved
temple rebuilt
years of silence
God’s plan unfinished:
Drama of sin and redemption
Out of the remnant of his people
comes a Son to
sit on the throne of David
forever
Mary conceives
angels announce
shepherds worship
Messiah
Son of God
Son of Man
Bread of Life
Immanuel
Final Prophet
Great High Priest
King of Kings
Righteous One
Sacrificial Lamb
he who knew no sin bears
the sin of his
own
thorns of the curse
pressed down on his
head
bears sin’s penalty
separated from the Father
dies in sinners’ place
darkness falls
veil torn
graves open
“It is finished”:
Drama of sin and redemption
Human kings cannot stop
Him
death’s tomb cannot hold
him
sin’s curse cannot defeat
him
the firstfruit of life
eternal
new body on
display
appears to many
ascends to royal
throne.
Sends the Spirit
establishes his church
unleashes
rescuing
forgiving
justifying
reconciling
indwelling
transforming
empowering
providing
guiding
protecting
keeping
grace
opens blind eyes
enlivens dead souls
recaptures wondering hearts
illumines darken minds:
Drama of sin and redemption
Life now and forever
good gifts to the church
commissions ambassadors
marches his own toward the
final kingdom
new heavens, new earth
peace and righteousness
forever
final feast
songs of the redeemed echo
forever
Lamb on the Throne
every tongue and nation
bow in
adoration
awe
submission
celebration
gratitude
worship
praise.
Redemption accomplished
redemption complete
eternal sabbath of the redeemed.
The moral sweep of
the divine Story:
Creation
Fall
Redemption.
The one time encompassing
timeless Story:
Drama of sin and redemption
The only Story to make
sense
out of every human
story
the most
shockingly honest and
gloriously hopeful
Story that has ever been
told
written by the Author of Authors
who makes himself
known
so that in knowing him
we might have
life
right here, right now and
forever:
Drama of sin and redemption
A Prayer for Today: Author of authors, thank you for making yourself known to me. By your grace, life has been extended to me, and I have hope in the midst of hopeless circumstances because of your great love and power. You have included me in your Story, so please give me the humility to know my place and recognize that the story isn’t about me, but you. You paid the ultimate price to make me a part of your story, and I am eternally grateful that I have been included. Your grace is amazing! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Discussion Prompt for Children
1. Why do you think people love stories so much? What makes a good story good? What is the best story you’ve ever heard?
2. Why is the story of God’s plan in the Bible the most important story? How are you and I a part of that story? Who is the main character in the story laid out for us in Scripture? Why do you think it’s important to understand our place in the story?
Reflection Questions
1. As you read and reflect on the grand narrative of Scripture, how do you feel knowing that God has included you in the ultimate eternal story? In a posture of humility, how does this help you to know your place?
2. When was the last time you felt “lost in your story” to the point where you were genuinely confused about your life’s direction and purpose? Where did that drive you when you felt that way? What (if anything) was able to draw you back?
3. What things, people, or events have you been tempted to place your identity in? Why will all of those ultimately leave you unsatisfied? How does placing your identity in Christ differ from placing your identity in anyone or anything else?
4. How does the ultimate story of Scripture make sense out of every other story? How does it make sense out of your personal story? Your identity? Your sense of direction? Your ultimate purpose?