A writer loves to pound the keyboard into a first draft of his or her soon-to-be New York Times best seller. Ha! That’s fun. But before any story begins, the author must determine where and how the story will end—the point of destination.
Yes, that’s necessary, in writing and in life.
“…that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:19-20 NAS).
Every manuscript, from the beginning scene is pointed toward the appointed conclusion. Within the page allotment. And not over the word count limitation.
Our lives have limits too.
God made you and me and numbered our days, before we were born. Scripture says He even numbered the hairs on our head. We are of utmost importance to the Almighty Creator of the Universe. And He alone knows the end of our life stories. But we have a responsibility and a privilege in this equation. We get to choose our destination.
“For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb…My frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth…and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them” (Psalm 139:13-16 NAS).
Writers infuse their pages with a variety of characters, from silly to sullen and lovely to licentious, depending on the story. We develop their personalities, characteristics, and appearances. Some are keepers and even journey through multiple books. Others are troublesome, don’t move the story forward, and just aren’t a fit. So we push them into the shadows or delete them from the text.
During the course of our lifetime we meet many people. People who impact our lives for good. There is an old rhyme that says: “Make new friends, but keep the old. Some are silver and some are gold.” Precious gold and silver friendships bring encouragement, love, and joy. But we also meet folks who just aren’t a fit, who may even be harmful. And we must choose which relationships we desire to develop, and those we need to dissolve.
“How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding. For its profit is better than the profit of silver, and its gain than fine gold…Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; turn away from it and pass on” (Proverbs 3:13-14, 4:14-15 NAS).
Writers always, always, always develop a plot line. A thread, weaving through the story, with twists and turns to entertain, to offer the reader a satisfying conclusion. We become absorbed in our character’s actions or words and can often be surprised, forcing a change of plot we never saw coming.
And like these story book characters, our lives twist and turn consequentially with our good and bad choices. We become ensnared in the consequences of choices others make.
“The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore, I have hope in Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good to wait silently for the salvation of the Lord” (Lamentations 3:22-26 NAS).
Next? Those pesky edits. Day. After day. After day. Edits done to adjust the ebb and flow of words in the pages of our manuscript.
God develops a plot line for our lives, a line in accord with His perfect will.
“For I know the plans I have for you, ‘declares the Lord,’ plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NAS).
Problem is, we often reject or catapult over His line into enemy territory. Like the characters in our books, we become proud and haughty, demanding our way not His. But there’s good news—our immaturity and rebellion doesn’t surprise God. Nor does He throw us on the trash pile. He knows exactly what we’re going to do and what we’ve done. And He edits our lives and loves us in spite of wrong choices. And every sin, if we tell Him what we’ve done and determine to turn and walk in obedience to His Word.
And He promises His children He will take the messes we make, and work out our off-the-road-and-in-the-ditch moments for good to bring glory to His name and to conform us into the image of Jesus. Our Father in heaven continually edits the cadence of our lives and transforms our testimony about Him to benefit others.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren” (Romans 8:28-29 NAS).
A manuscript ready for publication can be years in the making. And even when these scripts are accepted, every writer knows there will be another year or more of a kazillion edits by the publisher before the book goes to press.
God has charted a course to develop His story in each one of us. We are a WIP (work-in-progress). The difference is our life stories remain for eternity. Somewhere. Depending on the eternal decision we make now. While life and breath remain, there is always time to edit our destination.
Because of the grace of God and Jesus death, burial, and resurrection, we can know our where we will spend eternity. You either trust Him, or you don’t. You either obey Him, or you won’t. You either love Him, or you don’t.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him” (John 3:16-17 NAS).
Writers choose the times, circumstances, and places for their stories to begin and end.
God has already chosen the time, circumstance, and place your earthly story will end. However, He loves you so much He allows you to choose your eternal destination.
Twice born or separation?
Heaven or Hell?
No limbo. No in between. No non-decision.
Life with Jesus now and forever. Or life now and an eternity without Him.
Which plot line are you traveling? Which map are you following? Which destination have you chosen this day?
“…we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—for He says, ‘At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you,’ Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation—” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2 NAS).
“My son, keep my words, and treasure my commandments within you. Keep my commandments and live, and my teaching as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart” (Proverbs 7:1-3 NAS).