{The} Story, {His} Story, gives substance to our existence.
Because of it, every thought, every communication is connected with and woven through THE WORD. It’s how we all connect. Words. Written. Spoken. Unspoken. Shouted. Whispered.
Words show life is real, broken, full of emotion, love, hate, sorrow, joy, obedience, disobedience, blessings, curses, judgement, trials, glory, grace, mercy, forgiveness, repentance and redemption.
In {His} Story, the beginning of the story of us all, we witness: the moment man set his mind and his foot to disobedience; the anger, envy and self-pity that drove Cain to kill his brother; the building of the ark and the rising of the waters until the only souls living were captive on a wooden boat till the water left them high and dry; the impact of the words of Moses on Pharaoh; the manna that fell from Heaven-what in the world?; the parting of the waters of the Red Sea and their rushing return devouring Pharoah’s soldiers; the tears of Hannah in the gut-wrenching heartache of barrenness; the guilt David suddenly faced when Nathan confronts him on the murder of Uriah and the taking of Bathsheba; Jonah’s disobedience and experience in the fish for 3 days, his subsequent obedience, God’s mercy and Jonah’s self-pity; the stand taken by Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the walk in the flames with the fourth man; the moment God set His plan of redemption in the world with the encounter Mary has with Gabriel; the desperation of Peter as he steps out of the boat onto the water and suddenly clings to Jesus in fear and doubt; the moment blind Bartimaeus can see-really see Jesus, Son of David, who did have mercy on him and Jesus’ command to “Go” he instantly disobeys as he follows the one who gave him sight; the joy on Mary Magdalene’s face as she realizes that Jesus is alive and standing in front of her; the sudden blindness and clarity of understanding after the encounter of Saul with Jesus on the road to Damascus; John’s vision as it is revealed to him by the angel in his old age and so much more.
The Words that tell and teach and comfort and warn; that reach out to tell us just how much He loves us; that give us our history to show us there will be messes, there will be despair, there will be defeat. But there will also be joy and dancing in the streets.
Our words tell our part of the story. They tell our moments, our days, every breath, every heartbeat. Our part of the story reveals our love, loss, despair, hope, faith. And, in my particular, peculiar part, the path I walk on this journey of life.
How do I tell you the words in the right order lest the meaning be changed altogether to something else entirely? How do I tell you when I look at words strung together like a strand of pearls it gives me hope or takes it away? How do I tell you the power of a word and where and how it is used is important? That some words, spoken, even whispered, have so much significance and so much power I hesitate to speak some things aloud? That words written and spoken can be used for evil as well as for good? How do I tell you that I share in the hope that you will see your part in {His} story?
Yet, here am I, still pounding away on the keyboard trying to get you to see what I see.
It is in the concept His Words hold where we understand the incredible completeness of all creation. Because of these words, full of the Glory of God in humanity and the incredible imperfections in the people in His Story, we can identify and come to grips with our own part of the story. Confident, knowing the end of{The} Story, {His} Story, is yet to come.
Sometimes, our part is not pretty. Rough drafts rarely are. But oh, the finished story….
A voice says, “Cry out.”And I said, “What shall I cry?” Isaiah 40:6
Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? Isaiah 40:21
Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord—with the first of them and with the last—I am he.” Isaiah 41:4
I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am you God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:9-10
“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare;
before they spring into being I announce them to you.” Isaiah 42: 8-9
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” Isaiah 43:10-13
Go.
Live.
Tell.
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10b-11