“Finding Your Place in God’s Great Story”
Dear Writer, I hope you had a beautiful week and began to see how the Lord has been leveraging life’s pains to powerfully shape your voice and message! This week, we’re shifting gears to look at how history impacts our writing voice. You see, here’s the interesting thing…
History is the space where culture, family, and theology merge to form our unique understanding of God’s larger story and how we fit into it. Though this internal framework may be subconscious for many, it’s often from this larger story that our smaller ones spring.
But before we dive in, let’s take a look at some others whose voice was shaped by their understating of history and God’s greater story through the ages.
History in History
Dietrich Bonheoffer is an excellent example of a man whose concept of history shaped his clarion call to a generation. Choosing to pursue theological studies at a young age, it was Bonheoffer’s clear understanding of historical, biblical faith and the role of the Jewish people in it that caused him to staunchly oppose the rise of Nazi government. That historical view of God’s larger story caused him to recognize the rising threat that so many missed, to work tirelessly to rouse the sleeping German church, and to seek the overthrow Germany’s wicked government to preserve his nation’s Christian heritage. That same historical view also instilled in Bonheoffer the deep conviction that victory would not lie in fleeing difficulty but standing strong for the sake of the coming generation of believers.
You see, writer, this is the beautiful thing. When we have an accurate view of God’s greater story, it gives us the ability to speak into that unfolding story with wisdom and confidence as Bonheoffer did, knowing that our voice can build that story and help God’s people continue moving form faith to faith. And here’s the other thing: that voice will stir the faith not only of our generation but of the next as well.
History in the Bible
Simeon in the Gospel of Luke is another great example of a man whose grasp of history and God’s story shaped his life and legacy. An ardent student of the scriptures, Simeon understood Israel’s history and looked with expatiation to its fulfillment in the coming of the Messiah. God rewarded Simeon’s expectant faith by allowing him to see the Christ child before he died and to speak a blessing and words of prophecy over Him.
You see, writer, having a firm grasp of God’s larger story positions us to participate in that story in unexpected and profound ways. It also gives us an unshakeable hope—a hope we can share—because we see God’s larger purpose through life’s tumult and pains. From this place, we can partner with God’s purpose to see His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Just as, through Simeon’s ardent commitment to God’s prophetic promises, God made space for Simeon to speak words of prophecy over the Messiah Himself.
History in Life
My own understanding of history started shaping my voice, when I discovered the roots of theater, (which has grown in to modern day movies) and how they were originally created to worship demon gods. This understanding of the original purpose and power of theater birthed my vision to see movies and stories created that would spur worship and devotion to God and inculcate Biblical truth into people’s hearts and minds. That vision led me to author my novels and then to help my neighbor when he wanted to start a writer’s conference for new writers to help them tell the stories God put on their heart.
History in Your Life
You see, writer, as we understand both the good and the bad of history from God’s perspective, it prepares us to be His redemptive force in the world by helping us to see where He’s been at work, where His influence has been absent, and where He’s gifted and called us to join Him in bringing His presence and peace and truth. Because here’s the amazing thing: in so many instances, God refuses to act apart from His people. Don’t believe me? Let me prove it to you…
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- The heavens are the Lord’s heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man. – Psalm 115:16
- And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” – Genesis 1:28
- And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” – Matthew 16:18-19
- “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-19
You see, writer, although God could have saved the world by Himself, He chooses to involve us. We have been invited into an amazing role. We have not just been called to write stories, but we’re invited, through all our words and deeds, to participate in God’s grand story that spans the ages and to see His glorious and eternal conclusion to the epic drama of His love for mankind.
Where to Start with History
Dose this excite you? I know my heart quickens a bit just to think of it! So if you would like to step more intentionally into God’s grand story, here are some things to keep in mind.
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- What Threads of History Speak to You? There are threads of God’s story that run through the centuries and ages, even to today. When you note what passions in your life intersect with God’s larger story, it can help you to participate more fully in what He is doing right now. (Though many have participated without knowing.) Sometime your interest in an arena or move of God in the past is setting you up to speak an old truth in a fresh way today.
- What Timeless Truths and Promises of God Capture Your Heart? Often, these will play a role in the message God has given you to share and, as you learn more about those truths and promises, enable you to see what God is doing with them today. These truths and promises shape your voice and message and embracing them intentionally will only help your message to grow stronger.
- Don’t Discount Your History. Be aware and don’t discount your interest in history. Sometimes your passion for certain threads of God’s story is a key to how God wants to work in and through you today by renewing things that are on the verge of being lost, or by bringing truth and correction into things that have gone wrong, or by being a beacon of hope illuminating eternal truth in the middle of people’s current pains.
- Know the Bible and History. A strong grasp of Biblical truth and seeing history in that light can help you see more and more how God is working in the world today. As believers, we are called not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, and here’s the thing…
As we understand the grand story of God throughout history, we find ourselves more and more caught up in that story as active participants, whether it is in a particular thread like my pursuit of worship in the arts, or in a certain epoch of history like Bonheoffer’s concern for Germany’s legacy as a Christian nation, or in God’s overarching redemptive story like Simeon. But no matter where you find God has woven you into the threads of His-story, I can tell you, there is no more exhilarating place to be than in the middle of His unfolding plans. You see, we were not designed to simply experience history but, with Him, to create it. Because here’s the final thought…
While the ultimate outcome of all things is certain and squarely in God’s hands, there are many smaller threads whose outcome is up to us. God generously allows our choices to impact much of the “middle story” of His epic tale. And not only does He allow it, He delights in calling us to co-labor with Him as He trains us to rule and reign with Him in His fellowship and likeness as He planned from the very beginning.
As we rise to that challenge and enter history as the change-makers, kings, and priests He’s created us to be, we become an integral part of seeing His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Just like in Bonheoffer’s brave stand to preserve the powerful and eternal truths of the Gospel impacted not only his generation but countless believers since, calling them to a life of wholehearted discipleship. Just like Simeon’s hopeful expectation gave space for him to speak words that ring with truth to hopeful expectation in Christ even today. Just like my pursuit of worship in the arts not only birthed God-glorifying work but opened the door for others to be equipped to enter God’s great story as “His-story” makers, too.
So I encourage you today, writer, if you’ve felt overwhelmed by “history”—past, present, or future—to pause for a moment and take a look at where God is at work and then to prayerfully see where He’s woven you into His grand design. There is no more fulfilling thing I can think of than to hear it said of us someday that, like David, we fulfilled God’s purposes for us in our generation.
#history #glory #courage #EveryWriterWriting
