The Hero Of History By Pete Briscoeنموونە

Seeing Things Clearly

God created man because He loves good stories. — Elie Wiesel 

Good stories… we love them, watch them, and read about them. We’re living them. And almost all good stories follow a pattern. 

• First, everything starts out ideal and happy. 
• Second, a crisis emerges.
• Then, the hero arrives to clean up the mess. 
• Finally, the story ends with some form of restoration.

By understanding the pattern of a good story, we can easily see that we’re living in the midst of something epic. Our Great Story is the story of Eden and Satan and Jesus and Heaven. As you read through the Bible, you’ll see that outline laid out for you. And we’re right in the middle of it—one big story being lived out in a thousand little stories day by day.

Yes, God has put us in the middle of an amazing story. But do we “get it”? Do we see the intensity of the drama… the true implications of the crisis and heroic restoration?

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5, emphasis mine)

The more clearly we see the crisis, the more we’ll see the need for our Hero, Jesus.

Holy Father, apart from what You did through Christ on the cross, I’d still be dead in my transgressions. Thank You that I am now in Christ—forgiven, cleansed by His blood, accepted by You as an heir and a child! What can I do except raise my voice in praise to You for what You have done for me?