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Your Crucial Role In The Story
Brian Mashburn
March 8, 2009
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Epilogue: Play Your Part Well
Back in High School, I remember so clearly all the different looks of all the different people. Some dyed their hair jet black, and wore clothes to match from head to toe. Some put on the boots and hats (right there in the big city) and acted like country boys. Others spiked their hair, or went ballistic on piercings, or just mindlessly followed the preppy crowd. Personally, I went with the more laid back, but equally unconventional, untucked flannel shirt over whatever I wore, no matter the weather, and grew my hair long in the back (yes...a mullet).
Conscientious observers, meaning no condescension at all, said we were attempting to "find ourselves." And while most of us eventually tone down the outward appearances of it, we are all continuing to do so. To "find ourselves".
The good news is that the story of God in the Bible gives every one of us the vital tools with which to "find ourselves".
This was no surprise to Paul, who told his young friend Timothy that the Bible is straight from God, and that it is useful for showing us ourselves, for reprimanding us when we aren't ourselves, for showing us how to get back to being ourselves when we forget, and for equipping us with the wherewithal to live as ourselves (2 Tim 3:16-17).
Don't you want that? Need it? Aren't you weary of wondering what in the world is going on? What sort of tale have we fallen into? What is our role?
The Bible's story tells us that 1) there is more going on than meets the eye, 2) that we are in the middle of a great battle, and that 3) you have a crucial role to play.
So, here towards the end of Act III, our current question, which is an exciting, consuming, humbling, dangerous question is, "What is my role?"
And to get the answer to that, my friends, we must ask the Author of the Story. And to the extent that you do, and to the extent that you follow what He says, is the extent to which you will "find yourself" and have life to the full.