How do I fit into God’s narrative? There are times when I wish that there were a formula I could punch into my life and have it spit out the next few steps to help me on my Christian journey. It would make things a little more clear at least. What do I say in response to everything that is happening in our lives from what are the next steps I should take in a COVID19 world? Or what exactly should I be doing to address racial injustice? These are serious issues demanding caution and perspective we sometimes find it hard to come by.
You might ask, “Who do I listen to? Who would God rather me follow now? What’s my place in a rapidly changing world?” It can all get confusing. We know that God has given us our leaders, but we also know their response to everything is not perfect, and their sinful hearts get in the way of the clarity God would have them know.
Ephesians 1:18–23 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
It’s sin that so often causes us to forget how Big God is in all of this. We many times resort to painting him out of the picture. We think things are too chaotic for him to be involved. But there Christ is, sitting on the throne of heaven. He sits as a perfect ruler and perfectly knowing what’s happening. He wants us to know he demands justice and goodness to a higher degree than even we want it. He will hold sin accountable from the bad officers, to the violence that ruins our cities, even to the unloving hearts that reside in us! But in Christ, that justice fell on the cross and goodness fell on us!
It’s incomparably great to believe that he is a Big God. When Christ sits, that means he is done with his work. When life is devalued by others, he still holds incredible valuable to it because he died to give life to the full. He very clearly loved the oppressed and forgotten. And he brings justice to the unjust.
Where do I fit into God’s narrative?
The Bible isn’t like a road map that tell you every turn you must make. It’s a story of his love and redemption for us. Finding out what God wants for me means growing in that story of love. These last weeks we’ve been exploring that in our Thursday night Bible Class. How does it look? Even though we build on the same principles of God’s Word it looks different for each of us. But this is true, God can use us right where we are (in family, church, community) and remembering how Big God is sets the foundation for the hope to which we have been called.