Stories captivate us. Do you ever wonder why we’re drawn to a good story? Cinderella. Beauty and the Beast. A Tale of Two Cities. We can easily translate them into our own lives and feel the power of their message. Stories are retold in theater, the movies, picture books, video games. Tell me a good story, and I want to hear it again and again. I imagine myself in it. It informs me and fills me.
I think stories draw us so, because God designed them to draw our hearts to Him. The Gospel story is the most powerful and redemptive event of this world. And it was written in the heart of God. The Old Testament is filled with imagery of it, the prophets foretell it. It is the perfect plot that leads to our redemption. And in a small way, every story across time, Christian or secular, mirrors it.
This is why our story is so important. And when we have the redemptive work of Christ in us, our lives take on new meaning. His Word informs our story. And we begin to see the situations in life through a redemptive lens. His work weaves love through us. When this happens, our words take on that power.
I begin to see the gospel message in Cinderella, in Indiana Jones and in my neighbors life.
The Gospel
We start with the opening scene. God makes this beautiful creation. A perfect oasis for mankind to abide with Him. But within a short time, a dilemma occurs. The evil lurking in the garden spins a trap, drawing on their weakness. A serpent with cunning tongue deceives and allures Eve into desiring something outside of her perfect design. And she falls. Adam too.
Now there is a problem. A serious problem. One that will forever change history. Darkness invades. Mankind reaches its utter worst and hope for reconciliation with God seems lost. Millenniums pass. Systems of redemption are put into place that only serve as a bandaid to the disease that will ultimately consume mankind.
But there is hope.
The Lord kept reaching out. He gave instructions and visions that included hints and foreshadowing of a victor to come.
Even in our darkest times, so long as we have breath, we have the hope of victory too! If God sent judges and prophets and heros to rescue and encourage and lead his people, he will do it for us. Rebellion didn’t stop his love or his plan.
And a victor did come; he comes for us. Hope for eternity is available. Christ came. He fulfilled God’s requirement. The trinity wrote redemption’s story and Christ finished the work on the Cross.
This gospel is our message. The words in scripture bring life to all who receive. So when scripture becomes your and my passion, our words have power. The message of grace and hope and righteousness become our mantra and we can be confident that our lives will now serve a great purpose. This gives us courage to share our words. Not for ourselves, but for others.
Allow God’s message to inform your story, and you can move forward in confidence.
Leave a Reply