History Really is His Story

Having just arrived home from our trip to England and Italy, I want today to be a relaxing day. I thought it might be good to see a movie this afternoon, so I checked to see what's playing at the theater near our home. I usually don't agree with the critics review of a movie, but often do trust the opinions of people who have seen the film, especially if many say the same thing.

As I was reading the review of one movie I wanted to check out, here was one person's review:

Not so great. Very little action and not much drama either. Great actors, good acting, but too little to work with. No suspense, no drama, no action, tired plot. Somewhat boring.

When I read that review, I thought about something I recently said when my friend, Paul Anderson-Walsh and I were on Premier Radio in England last week. The issue we were discussing is why God allows evil and pain and all the negative things in life that He could prevent if He wanted to do so.

I know I'll evoke the ire of some who consider "free will" to be the greatest thing they imagine God to have ever created, but I'm not comfortable with the free-will-card as the reason bad things exist in this world. I have another opinion on the matter.

I believe that God allows evil because it provides a great backdrop for revealing His love and grace. Have you ever noticed how that when a jeweler shows you a diamond, he lays in on a pitch-black backdrop. The reason for that is to cause the diamond's brilliance to shine all the more.

History truly is His-Story and I think that a film might be a good metaphor for life in this world. It has already been written and is "in the can" as far as the eternal perspective goes. God isn't waiting to see how the ending turns out. He has already written it and, in Reality, it's a done deal.

If we as human beings are like the guy who reviewed the movie I mentioned earlier and we don't like story lines that lack suspense and danger, why would we think that God would create a world like that? It would be boring, to say the least. The suspense and danger of this world only magnifies the wonder and glory of our God. In this story -- His Story -- a Savior wants somebody to save. A Healer wants somebody to heal. A Deliverer wants somebody to deliver. You get the point.

From the human perspective, it could look like it would be the sadistic work of a god who could hardly be considered as loving if this is true. You and I are the ones in distress who need a hero. There is an antagonist who fights against us, but remember, the end of the story has already been written and the Protagonist of History wins.

So, when things go badly for us in life, and they often do - let's remember that we serve a Sovereign God who has already worked it all out for good. You may be on a dark page in the story of your life right now. This planet appears to be playing out a dismal scene right now. Nevertheless, the Author and Finisher of it all is directing the unfolding of this small incident we call "time." When we finally do see it all from the vantage point of eternity, we will give Him a standing ovation for the exciting story He has written. Though it may not always make sense now, we will see the absolute beauty of it then. After all, it is and will forever be His-Story.