Fwd: Storyteller My Story

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From: ryanjaustin@comcast.net
Date: March 28, 2012 4:57:33 PM EDT
To: ryan austin <ryanjaustin@comcast.net>
Subject: Storyteller My Story

            STORYTELLER

 

"For He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will." God has a unique story for you prewritten before the foundations of the earth were laid. God did not create you and then say, "What should I do with Ryan?" He had, in mind a magnificent story he wanted to write with your life. Therefore, he created you.

 

The world is doing everything it can to blind us from seeing this truth. I was at UNF yesterday talking to an agnostic for two hours about God. This young man who once came to Resolution and claimed to be a Christian argued with me for two hours how life has no meaning. To him everything is simply an idea. There is no purpose to life. I was perplexed as I listened to this young man. When and how did he ever give into the lie that there is no purpose in life, that God has no story for him? The world is doing everything it can to keep you from the beautiful story God has for your life. If the world can get you to believe there is no purpose, no story and no Author, then it will rob you of living the story God has for you.

 

WHEN OUR STORY MAKES NO SENSE

 

What happens when our story makes no sense? Two weeks ago I led my first funeral. A young man at the age of 33 went on to be with Jesus leaving behind his young wife and six year old son. A glimpse at this story appears tragic: "Why would God allow this? What purpose is there in this?" We all ask the question, "Why?" at some point in our lives—whether it be the loss of a loved one or a broken relationship, sickness or other tragic happening. I remember asking this question when Shelby and I broke up our engagement. I had lived pure my entire life, never even kissed a girl, had waited for the one, and I felt God telling me to break up: "Why Lord?"

 

Psalm 73 paints a picture of exactly what I'm talking about. The psalmist, Asaph, is in bewilderment asking the question, "Why?" "Why am I struggling with sickness, while the wicked are healthy? Why is the world successful, while we who are living righteously are struggling with all we've got just to make it…" Asaph's story wasn't making sense. He was looking at others who weren't even serving God, and they appeared to be doing better than he was. You may be thinking the same as Asaph. Your story makes no sense right now: "Why me? What's going on?" Maybe your story has really never made sense your whole life. Like Asaph, you're thinking: "Is life even worth living right? Surely have I kept my heart pure in vain" (v13).

 

THERE IS MORE TO LIFE THAN MEETS THE EYE

 

My answer to you is, "There is more to life than meets the eye." When you find nothing in this world can truly satisfy, there is only one conclusion: you were made for another world. When you look at the world and you see all the success, health, wealth and pleasure, you can soon grow weary and envious: "Why does the world get the pleasure? Why are they struggle free? Whey do they get all the attention, fame and popularity?"

 

 There is more to life than meets the eye! You can live in the world and gain the momentary surge of pleasure and think: "I have arrived! Life is good! This is the life!" But only for a moment, for you will not be satisfied deep down inside. In fact the moment the Ibuprofen wears off you will be left even emptier. Now you are not only empty but also disillusioned: "I thought that guy was my happiness. I thought listening to that music would revive me? It did didn't it? Or at least for a moment. But now look at me! At the end of the day now that the 'fun' is over I feel empty. I don't quite feel satisfied. Getting all the attention from those girls has only left me distraught. I thought for sure that movie was going to make me happy. I thought the good grades would bring me fulfillment. How could I be filling like this? I've been longing for this guy for so long!? Now that I have him, now that I have her… I no longer want him or her. I mean at first…but now that I've indulged in the temptation my heart still hungers. I'm still empty…" There is more to life than meets the eye. Let's look at Asaph to uncover this truth.

 

HOW TO DISCOVER YOUR STORY

 

1. Meet the Author in worship

 

After Asaph states his case and poses the question, "Why me?" he says, "When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny" (v16-17). Asaph finally decides he's going to go into the sanctuary and worship God. He's going to stop trying to figure out all the answers. He's simply going to set his focus on Jesus. The moment he does so, God opens up his spiritual eyes and he sees the truth. Beforehand, Asaph was trying to put all the puzzle pieces together and was lost in bewilderment. Now everything made sense. Now he had peace, an eternal perspective. He may not know all the details of his story, but he now knows that God is sovereign, that he is in control and he (Asaph) is safe inside God's will.

 

This is what worship does for us. It gives us the ability to meet with God, to encounter his presence. Worship is essential to you discovering and living the story God has for you. So often we find ourselves in bewilderment, asking ourselves: "What's going on with my life?" When the answer is found in our intimate worship life with God.

 

Notice Asaph's perspective change: "Yet I am always with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (v23-26). Now that he has encountered God's presence he sees what is truly valuable because he has an eternal perspective. The meaning of life and the source of true happiness are only found in the presence of God. Worship allows us to meet with God and discover this.

 

2. Know that the Author is Sovereign and let him write your story

 

One of my favorite books is the The Horse and his Boy by C.S. Lewis. C.S. Lewis tells a story about a young orphan named Shasta, who grew up never knowing his true parents, living under the harsh rule of a fisherman. Because of Shasta's abusive landlord he decides to escape. Through a series of events that happens as he runs away he is chosen to send a message to Narnia to warn them that the evil Tashbaan are coming to kidnap the princess. Nearing the climax of the story Shasta is on this journey exhausted, hungry, perplexed and lost. He is one straw from mental breakdown.

 

"Shasta begins to feel sorry for himself and says, 'I do think that I must be the most unfortunate boy that ever lived in the whole world. Everything goes right for everyone except me…' As Shasta begins to think about all this he begins to cry until he discovers something or someone is following him. He knew it was something big by the sound of its breath and that his horse could not outrun it: 'Who are you?' Shasta scarcely says above a whisper. 'One who has waited long for you to speak,' said the Thing. It's voice was not loud but very large and deep… 'Tell me your sorrows.'

 

Shasta was a little reassured by his breath; so he told how he had never known his real father or mother and had been brought up sternly by the fisherman. And then he told the story of his escape and how they were  chased by lions and forced to swim for their lives; and of all their dangers in Tashbaan and about his night among the tombs and how wild beasts howled at him… 'I do not call you unfortunate said the Large Voice.' 'What about all the lions!' 'There was only one lion.' 'What! I told you there were two lions the first night!' 'There was only one lion.' 'How do you know?'

 

'I was the lion.' And Shasta gaped with open mouth and said nothing… 'I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the Jackals away from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the Horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you."

 

All the puzzle pieces come together when you meet the Author of your story. Until you meet him your whole life will be lost. But the moment you meet him and let him direct your life you discover your amazing story.

 

God has prewritten a beautiful story for each of us, but sin changed this story to a nightmare. So God sent his Son Jesus to remove our selfish mistake so that our stories could be rewritten with Jesus' blood. What you choose to do with this amazing gift will determine what will be written.