“What kind of story have we fallen into?”
Sam to Frodo in The Fellowship of the Rings
Maybe more accurately stated for we who follow Jesus, "What kind of Story has sucked us up into it?" It may seem that some of us stumbled into the faith, but the truth is that resurrection power exerted from an extra-terrestrial, loving and personal Source has drawn us into the realism of eternal life. But...back to the Story.
Meditate with me for a few moments on the following Scriptures in light of this premise: this Gospel of Jesus, that we have embraced, is essentially about the Person and Event of all time and eternity and that brings to light the true meta-narrative of Divine/human history, integrates its various sub-plots and provides the essential interpretative template for rightly understanding God's intentions and activity throughout time and eternity. (I know that these are really big thoughts, but...come on...it's good for us to "go there" on occasion! Oh, we so often don't perceive or remember what has actually come upon us.)
So...here is a smattering of such passages from the apostolic record (read the words slowly and contemplate their meaning and implications):
...3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery… 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets…. 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord…. Eph 3:3, 5, 9-11
9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. Eph 1:9-10
25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith…. Rom 16:25-26
1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. Heb 1:1-2
Our seemingly, but apparently not so, little lives and life stories are mysteriously nested in this Greatest Story ever told. The Gospel is truly the uber-intriguing mystery/adventure/romance epic imaginable and you're a player in the drama of it. "Unbelievable!," say the fearful. "No...Believable," say the courageous.
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