The Story

Psalm 139:16 (ESV) 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

As I sit down to write this, my mind is struggling with many emotions. In the past 72 hours since the moment of this being written, we have seen senseless murder, school shootings, a political assassination, and riots across our country. Anger, sadness, grief, love and compassion. All of these are at the top of my heart today. Yet, one emotion is completely absent in this madness. That emotion is fear.

When we look at the state of the world, it seems to be falling further and further away from God. The death throes of sin are very real and very powerful. As mankind drifts and wanders further from Christ, chaos ensues. We can look historically and see a very vivid picture of this across all of creation!  Yet fear is absent.

Wars and rumors of wars like in Matthew 24…persecution like in Acts 4 and 5…disease and famine like in 2 Chronicles 6. The “fruits of death” as a result of a sinful world are abundant in our eyes and minds in these days. Yet fear is absent.

Uncertainty of the future for our children and grandchildren. Of our very country gifted to us by a gracious God. Of political turmoil and plight. Darkness creeps closer and closer to everything we hold dear.  Yet fear is absent.

You see brothers and sisters…this is all a part of a story. A story most glorious and beautiful. A story of creation, death, mercy, redemption, and triumph. A story of deliverance and perseverance and peace. A story that has time and time and time again shaken the very foundations of our existence! A story with a holy and righteous author!

That very author wrote ALL of this into being. As we see in Psalm 139 (my personal favorite scripture), before ever there were days to experience, God already wrote them. His pen illustrating each and every detail of our lives from the greatest of magnitude to the absolutely microscopic detail. So fully is His love for His creation that He has already written everything into being as a means to do two things.The first is to declare His glory and sovereignty. That HE is Lord over His creation. The creation is not Lord over Him. Nothing that is happening right now that causes us turmoil and worry is of any surprise to the author. This is why fear is absent. The story is not complete. The creeping darkness can do only that…. creep. It cannot conquer as the King has done on the cross! It is but a shadow of the might of our Lord!

Which leads into the other intention…it is to encourage. Yes we may still grieve. Yes we may still hurt and our very souls ache for the state of a world further and further from the love and light of Christ. Yet, we MUST not stand down. We MUST not show fear. Fear cannot have any place in our hearts as this type of fear is NOT of God. May you be emboldened to live for Christ all the more. May you be encouraged that HE is sovereign over this all. May you preach the Gospel to yourself, knowing that every other person who commits such horrific acts are just as deserving of this mercy as you are.

Christian…remember this…The Story is not our story. It is HIS Story…..and it is not completed. 

May fear be absent.   

SOLI DEO GLORIA!!!!