Photo by: Bob AuBuchon
I find it so necessary to keep in mind that the 66 books of the Bible have one all-encompassing, underlying storyline that gives perspective to all of the individual subplots, proverbs, predictions, laws, and letters.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Author behind the authors tells us the most important parts of his story and ours. He puts our first parents in the setting of a created, idyllic world that is soon marred and complicated by the introduction of a disastrous conflict.
Distrust and the resulting estrangement from this Creator results in bad excuses, blame-shifting, murder, and fugitive status. Idol making becomes an obsession. Generation after generation wanders with lost purpose.
Life seems to slow down in a series of tragic stories of romance, tragedy, feuds, and hopes that are held together by a Promise.
Only when the Promise appears in a Person do all of the subplots merge into the darkest of days, followed quickly by the brightest.
All that follows moves forward, by looking back to the Best News the world has ever heard.
The challenge for us is to never lose sight of the real plot of this true story. Yet to do so we need to be able to separate the Plot from the subplots. For example, and just for openers, which of the following do you think begins to move us in the right direction of really understanding the story of the Bible?
Plot option 1— After the Creator of the universe uses what he has made to show his power, wisdom, and goodness, he gives a man and woman, made in his likeness, the opportunity to discover for themselves what happens to those who do, or don’t, trust him.
Plot option 2—After the Creator of the universe shows his goodness by what he has made, he continues to reveal how good he is, not only by giving freedom of choice to a man and woman made in his likeness, but also by showing the extent he is willing to go to bear the costs of giving the freedom–and the restoration to his likeness— that is necessary to trust and enjoy him forever.
Plot option 3— After the Creator of the universe shows his goodness by what he has made, he gives a man and woman, created in his likeness, the opportunity to discover for themselves why goodness is to be loved and evil hated.
Photo by: Steven Coutts
Plot option 4— After the Creator of the universe shows his goodness by what he has made, he gives a man and woman, the opportunity to discover for themselves that they and their children will reap what they sow.
Do you think any of the above begins to rise to the level of the real story, purpose, and hope of The Book? What about the importance of subplots but the danger of getting lost in them?
PS Please find at Feb 16, 5:36 below, my interaction with the first series of comments.
(+25 rating, 25 votes)
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