A Holy Beckoning
Why do stories captivate us? What movies are your favorite? Stop and ask yourself, "Why?" Why do I love it when Mr. Darcy walks so majestically across a field toward Elizabeth? Why can I watch Ever After or Notting Hill over and over again? Why is Life is Beautiful so touching to our hearts?
I would propose that almost any story that touches our heart is actually reaching a place in our soul. It's calling to something mysterious inside of us. What is this thing, this desire, this beckoning? I believe it is God drawing us into his story. Our irreplaceable role in His great, eternal, story of redemption. And God is not just the author of this story, he's the hero of the story*. In short it goes something like this: Once upon a time, a great fellowship of the Triune God already existed. Then, God created. He created the Heavens and the Earth. The angels he created cheered him on in this act of creating. But at some point, a betrayal happened. There was a war in heaven led by one of the angels- Lucifer. Lucifer and his followers were cast to earth... As the creation of earth unfolded it was good. And God formed man, and then woman, in his very image, and it was very good. But this enemy of God, Lucifer, called Satan, came to steal the heart of mankind, kill with deception, and destroy anything dear to God's heart. And so, for a moment, the villain in this story had his way. He deceived Adam and Eve, and they gave their heart away to something other than God, in other words, they sinned. In the ultimate climax of this story, God came down to Earth to take this sin upon himself. He didn't have any sin, but he became sin for his beloved creation, so that they might have union with God once again. Like in the beginning. Like when it was good.
And here we are. We are his beloved creation, made in His image. We are the ones he wants union with. Forever. You were made by an eternal God who put a small piece of this story in your soul to want to be with him, too. Allen Arnold, in The Story of With, writes, "Some stories offer a way to unplug from reality. Yet the better stories usher us into a deeper reality. These kinds of stories rip a seam in the atmosphere so that the unseen starts to become visible. Think of it as a portal that provides a glimpse of God and His Kingdom."
The more we look for God, the more we will find him. Look for him in your favorite stories. Look for how he is beckoning you closer to him with it. Ask yourself, "Why do I love this? What is it, Lord? What are you saying to my heart in this story?"
Here's a journal entry of mine from this type of examination into why I love Pride and Prejudice so much:
"I love how Mr. Darcy proves his love for Elizabeth. He comes for her family, he changes his heart, he willingly forsakes his pride to show her all of this. She puts aside her notion that he doesn't truly care. She lets herself fall into his care. She doesn't restrict her feelings for him anymore. She lets him love her."
Do you see Jesus coming for my heart? I do. Whispering to me, "I have come for you. I have left heaven and all its riches to save you from destitution. Let yourself fall into my care- trust me. Let yourself be fully loved by me. Look around you, see all that I am doing to take care of you, to woo you."
Exhale. Ah. Thank you Jesus.
Yet there is more still. More to the story. See one day, God is going to make all things new. Whatever the enemy has stolen, killed, or destroyed will be returned. Tenfold. There will be a new Heaven, and a new Earth. His Kingdom come. And we will finally have this eternal place in our heart satisfied, because we will literally be eternal, with God, forever.
At the end of Les Miserables, you feel the lyrics the entire cast is belting out:
"They will live again in freedom
In the garden of the Lord.
We will walk behind the ploughshare;
We will put away the sword.
The chain will be broken
And all men will have their reward.
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes!"
Why do you get goosebumps? Why does it stir emotion? It's God. And He's beckoning you to come, just as you are, into full union with Him. Say yes.
*This content is based on the teachings of Stacy Eldridge at the Captivating retreat I attended in Colorado this October. She, along with the other authors associated with Ransomed Heart Ministries, are integral to my understanding of God. Please do your soul a favor and check them out*
I would propose that almost any story that touches our heart is actually reaching a place in our soul. It's calling to something mysterious inside of us. What is this thing, this desire, this beckoning? I believe it is God drawing us into his story. Our irreplaceable role in His great, eternal, story of redemption. And God is not just the author of this story, he's the hero of the story*. In short it goes something like this: Once upon a time, a great fellowship of the Triune God already existed. Then, God created. He created the Heavens and the Earth. The angels he created cheered him on in this act of creating. But at some point, a betrayal happened. There was a war in heaven led by one of the angels- Lucifer. Lucifer and his followers were cast to earth... As the creation of earth unfolded it was good. And God formed man, and then woman, in his very image, and it was very good. But this enemy of God, Lucifer, called Satan, came to steal the heart of mankind, kill with deception, and destroy anything dear to God's heart. And so, for a moment, the villain in this story had his way. He deceived Adam and Eve, and they gave their heart away to something other than God, in other words, they sinned. In the ultimate climax of this story, God came down to Earth to take this sin upon himself. He didn't have any sin, but he became sin for his beloved creation, so that they might have union with God once again. Like in the beginning. Like when it was good.
And here we are. We are his beloved creation, made in His image. We are the ones he wants union with. Forever. You were made by an eternal God who put a small piece of this story in your soul to want to be with him, too. Allen Arnold, in The Story of With, writes, "Some stories offer a way to unplug from reality. Yet the better stories usher us into a deeper reality. These kinds of stories rip a seam in the atmosphere so that the unseen starts to become visible. Think of it as a portal that provides a glimpse of God and His Kingdom."
The more we look for God, the more we will find him. Look for him in your favorite stories. Look for how he is beckoning you closer to him with it. Ask yourself, "Why do I love this? What is it, Lord? What are you saying to my heart in this story?"
Here's a journal entry of mine from this type of examination into why I love Pride and Prejudice so much:
"I love how Mr. Darcy proves his love for Elizabeth. He comes for her family, he changes his heart, he willingly forsakes his pride to show her all of this. She puts aside her notion that he doesn't truly care. She lets herself fall into his care. She doesn't restrict her feelings for him anymore. She lets him love her."
Do you see Jesus coming for my heart? I do. Whispering to me, "I have come for you. I have left heaven and all its riches to save you from destitution. Let yourself fall into my care- trust me. Let yourself be fully loved by me. Look around you, see all that I am doing to take care of you, to woo you."
Exhale. Ah. Thank you Jesus.
Yet there is more still. More to the story. See one day, God is going to make all things new. Whatever the enemy has stolen, killed, or destroyed will be returned. Tenfold. There will be a new Heaven, and a new Earth. His Kingdom come. And we will finally have this eternal place in our heart satisfied, because we will literally be eternal, with God, forever.
At the end of Les Miserables, you feel the lyrics the entire cast is belting out:
"They will live again in freedom
In the garden of the Lord.
We will walk behind the ploughshare;
We will put away the sword.
The chain will be broken
And all men will have their reward.
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes!"
Why do you get goosebumps? Why does it stir emotion? It's God. And He's beckoning you to come, just as you are, into full union with Him. Say yes.
*This content is based on the teachings of Stacy Eldridge at the Captivating retreat I attended in Colorado this October. She, along with the other authors associated with Ransomed Heart Ministries, are integral to my understanding of God. Please do your soul a favor and check them out*
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