Are you in The Story?
by Werner Mischke

“If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed,
and heirs according to the promise.”
–Galatians 3:29

I have a history — a lineage — that goes back to Abraham, who lived approximately 2000 years before the time of Christ. This verse speaks of this "history" as part of my identity as a Jesus-follower.

God considered Abraham righteous purely on the basis of Abraham's belief in God, not on the basis of his good works (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6). This is exactly the same way God deems me to be righteous. It is purely on the basis of believing faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). In this way, Abraham is like my “grandfather.”

In Matthew 1:1 Jesus Christ is “the son of Abraham...” As the descendent of Abraham, Jesus Christ is the One through whom God's promised blessing (Genesis 12:3b) is being extended to all the “families” or ethnic groups on the earth. This is one reason why we as Jesus-followers say that Christ is the Savior of the world.

When I think of my connection to Abraham as part of my faith in Christ, I see that I am part of a Grand Narrative. “I am in The Story” — in God's Story. Derived from this understanding is a beautiful dual truth that I believe helps explain my life. On the one hand, by knowing that I am in God's Story, I am "at rest" because I do not need to create my own meaning. On the other hand, I tremble, knowing that I do have genuine responsibility. I have to make hard choices. Risk is unavoidable. But it is inside of a Story that is conceived, created, and authored by God. Life is the mystical interplay between the sovereignty of God and the free will of man.

Knowing that I am in God's Story affirms my transcendent meaning as a human being. My meaning is derived from God's wisdom, love, goodness, holiness — and His plan for the world — all revealed in the Bible. There is a rest, a beautiful freedom, that comes from accepting this meaning from God by faith. What a relief! I do not have to accept the modern view — the impossible burden — of creating my own meaning. Surely this is good news for modern man.

While I do not have the burden of creating my own meaning, thankfully, I do have a sense of "trembling" because God does give me responsibility. My actions and choices do matter to God and have eternal consequences. My choices matter to my family, my neighbor, my community, my nation, the whole world. I would not want it any other way.

Isn't this part of the human condition — that we have this inward yearning for dignity? My dignity hinges on the fact that my life and actions count. There is no potential for virtue (choosing wisely) apart from free will — and the possibility of choosing wrongly, foolishly, or even with evil intent.

I have genuine dignity because I have real choices in God's Story that bear consequences in human history — whether for evil or for good. By my lack of faith and disobedience to God — like Abraham, whose disobedience matters hugely in world events to this day — I can leave my mark on my world. Similarly, by my loving obedience to God — like Abraham — I can impact my family, community, and even nations — for good — in ways far beyond my own lifetime and comprehension.

As followers of Jesus we have been commanded and commissioned. Go into all the world. Be filled with His Spirit and be His witnesses. Make disciples of all nations. Extend the blessing of God's saving grace and transforming love to the ends of the earth.

As a follower of Christ, I am mystically connected to God's blessing in Abraham's life, which took place about 4,000 years ago. I am in God's global Love Story. It is integral to my identity as a follower of Jesus. This helps me — while living in our modern world — to embrace the wonderful responsibility of being personally involved in global Christian mission.

If you belong to Christ, you are in The Story — another of the grand truths taught in Operation WorldView.