Making Our Story Count
For we spend our years as a tale that is told. - Psalm 90:9
As we wrap up our series on "Once Upon a Time," we've discovered that real life has both similarities and differences to fairy tales. We've explored how God writes better stories than the Grimm Brothers and how our struggles aren't always resolved with a wave of a magic wand. But today, let's focus on making our life story worth telling. After all, according to our verse, we spend our years as a tale that is told. The question is, what kind of tale are we telling?
Like any good story, our lives have a beginning, middle, and end. But unlike fictional tales, we're writing ours in real time, and we don't get to edit the previous chapters. So, how do we ensure our story is worth telling? Here are some thoughts:
Remember Who the Author Is
First, remember who the Author is. While we make daily choices, God is the master storyteller. He's writing a grand narrative that spans history and has graciously given us a role to play. As Philippians 1:6 tells us, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." God has already plotted the perfect story for our lives, complete with twists, turns, and triumphs that we could never imagine. Our job is to trust His storytelling abilities and follow His lead, even when the plot seems unclear.
Include Character Development
Second, include plenty of character development. As fictional characters grow and change, we should constantly grow in our faith and Christian walk. Don't let your spiritual life become a flat narrative! God doesn't write one-dimensional characters. He's in the business of complete transformation. That process requires conflict, challenges, and sometimes even a few plot twists we didn't see coming. The question is: are we willing to embrace the development He has planned for us?
Be Mindful of Your Supporting Cast
Third, be mindful of your supporting cast. The people we surround ourselves with often determine the direction of our story. Choose companions who will encourage you in your faith journey. I've learned this lesson the hard way, discovering that some relationships can pull us away from our spiritual goals rather than push us toward them. The Bible warns us about this in 1 Corinthians 15:33, which states, "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." We must be intentional about the friends and influences we allow into our lives. This doesn't mean we should completely isolate ourselves from non-believers. After all, how can we be a light to the world if we're hidden away? But it does mean we should be wise about who we allow to speak into our lives and influence our decisions.
Focus on the Main Theme
Finally, focus on the main theme. Every good story has one, and ours should be clear: glorifying God and sharing His love with others. Whether we're working at our jobs, caring for our families, or serving in ministry, everything we do should point back to this central theme. When we wake up each morning, we have the opportunity to add another chapter to our story that honors God and draws others to Him. Sometimes, these chapters might seem ordinary—a kind word to a stranger, a prayer for a friend, or a moment of worship in the midst of our busy day—but in God's grand narrative, even the smallest acts of faithfulness can have eternal significance.
Years from now, when someone reads your life story, what will they find? Will it be a tale of self-centeredness and missed opportunities or an epic adventure of faith, courage, and divine purpose?
Let's make our stories count for eternity. After all, we're not just writing for ourselves. We're creating a legacy that could impact generations to come. As the old Welsh preachers would say, "Make your life a story worth telling, but more importantly, make it a story worth living."
And remember, while every story has an ending, for believers in Christ, our tale continues into eternity. Now that's what I call a happily ever after!