The Story of God: Our journey

As Steve Sabol, president of NFL Films, is fond of saying, "Tell me a fact and I'll learn; tell me the truth and I'll believe; but tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever."

How true (as every good teacher knows). Jesus, the Master Teacher, often made his point with a story. His stories pointed people to the greatest story of all: The Story of God.

At the center of this story is Jesus who, as Andrew Purves notes,"is the mediating center of revelation, whereby all of our knowledge of God is controlled" ("The Shape of Torrance Theology," Theology in Scotland, vol XVI, p26).

Because Jesus, who reveals God as God, has united himself to all humans through the Incarnation, his story is the story of all humankind. Our history is his-story.

The story of Jesus as our representative and substitute, is the gospel. This story encompasses creation, fall, re-creation (redemption), leading to humanity glorified and dwelling with God in a new heaven and new earth. This story thus tells of an unfolding journey - not one merely facilitated by God on our behalf, but one of God-with-us (through Christ, in the Spirit).

Some (nonbelievers) journey with God quite unknowingly. Others (believers) journey knowingly and (as sung by Michael Card) experiencing "joy in the journey." May that joy (the joy of Jesus himself, given to us through the Spirit), be yours.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, 

so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

(Romans 15:13, NRSV)