It is quite fascinating that whilst the Bible is essentially the story of God’s redemptive history, believers are able to locate themselves in the unfolding drama. In the last post, we saw how the Bible really is a purposeful narrative: a clear beginning in Genesis, a perfect ending in Revelation, and with everything in the middle building up towards that end.
At the heart of the Bible is an underlying framework or storyline of Creation -> Fall -> Redemption -> Restoration (CFRR).
In Creation, we observe the pattern of the Kingdom. In the Fall, we see a perished or fallen kingdom. In Redemption, a Kingdom is promised, partially fulfilled in Jesus’ first coming. And in the Restoration, we see the perfected kingdom. Spot the alliteration?
It is worth keeping the acronym CFRR in mind as a reader zooms in and out of the Bible. That way, the plotline remains intact. Admittedly, different parts of the Bible focus on different aspects of this overarching theme to varying degrees, hence a reader’s aims should include spotting how parts of the Bible fit into the main storyline.
There’s much benefit in lifting our eyes to grasp this panoramic view, one of which is to help us see how the Bible isn’t primarily about us, but about God and His kingdom. That is not to say that it doesn’t have anything to say about us or to us. It does, but only through the lens of God’s self-revelation! The true knowledge of God feeds a true knowledge of self. Coming to terms with this ‘God-before-self’ order frees us from a ‘me-centred’ Christianity, which in reality has more of a placebo effect than a truly transforming one on a believer.
Perhaps you’ve already got that order (God before self) right in your head, how is it working its way through your heart, and eventually to your hands? Does the ‘Big Story’ have any bearing on your daily life choices and priorities?
An open invitation
To the one who cowers in conceit or even discouragement, wondering ‘why trouble the waters? we’re doing just fine!’, may I encourage you to heed the Lord’s invitation through the prophet Isaiah: “Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live .”
Mining the treasures of the Bible is a lifelong venture, so we’ve got to keep at it with discipline and consistency. There’s indeed a lavish banquet set before us, let’s tuck in with delight.
Thanks for reading!
Sike Osinuga