In the conclusion of the account of his story of Jesus, John writes: “Jesus did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.”
John knew, I think , that each of us has a story, and that every believer in Christ could write their story about God’s impact in their lives. John essentially says, “This is my story, but everyone of us who knew Christ has a story,” and I believe that continues until today – enough so that John’s prophecy is true – the whole world could not contain the books that would be written about the unfinished story of God.The narrative of the Bible is one which tells part of the story of God, working in the lives of plain, ordinary people who were called to do extraordinary things. But the real beauty of the story of God is that it continues to be written. While its final chapter is known and its outcome certain, each day we all participate in the story of God. We choose, in some sense, what role we will play in that story – whether a humble servant who God works through, or a proud rebel who God humbles – but each of us is a character.
I believe that God still writes stories, and that the stories he writes today are no less spectacular than the ones he wrote two thousand years ago. I believe he will continue to write, from beginning to end.
My hope and prayer is that these thoughts over the past week and a half or so have challenged you to think about your beliefs and your picture of God, and perhaps to set down some thoughts about why you believe what you do. Ultimately my prayer is that God’s story in your life is a constant work, that the image of God as author would be real and powerful, and that your story would be intertwined with the work of His hand.