God’s Great Epic
In the heart of every person is a curiosity and a yearning for ancient things. There is an insatiable inquisitiveness to look into ages past. I believe this is a God-ordained thing. God has set into every human heart a longing for meaning and purpose (Ecclesiastes 3:11). This is why so many of our old stories began with “Once upon a time.” This is a wonderful phrase. It is full of legend, myth, promise, and mystery. This same idea is found in the beginning of the Bible. Genesis 1:1 begins: “In the beginning, God . . .” I believe God inspired Moses to write about beginnings, and these four words invite the reader to follow God on a story journey. In contrast to man-made fairy tales, God is saying, "Let me show you the truth and explain how things really are."
Truth be told, people long to hear a story that has meaning. Great stories have been told through the ages. In ancient times, the Greek poet Homer wrote two great poems titled "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey." Homer’s writings shaped aspects of Greek culture and education, promoting ideas of heroism, glory, and honor. A favorite author of mine is J.R.R. Tolkien. His great stories, "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings," tell of great adventures and dangerous quests to fight evil and establish good. Great storytelling is something everyone enjoys. It enriches our thinking and inspires our hearts and minds.
I believe this is what God is doing when he opens the Bible with those four words: “In the beginning, God . . .” God is pulling back the curtain and giving mankind a peek at what has been going on since the beginning of creation. Mankind has always wondered if there is more than this visible world. People have always yearned for a place that fits them, instinctively longing for more than this present world can deliver. You and I know that this world does not work fairly. Because this world does not and cannot deliver what we yearn for, the human spirit cries out for more. This is where great epics and stories temporarily satisfy our heart's longing for something better. While man-made stories can show brilliance and great imagination, they cannot compare with the "Divine Epic" that is found in the Bible.
Walk into any large mall, museum, or hospital and there will be a board with a map. On the map, there will be a star or red dot that says, “You are here.” These maps are offered to help orient us to where we are at the moment. They are designed to give perspective. After seeing the map, you will know where you want to go or what path to travel. You will have gained your proper direction. Let me say that we have that in our lives as well. When we read God’s word, we are given help and instruction. God tells us why He made us. He tells us what went wrong. God also tells us that He has a design for this creation. He has a plan for each and every one of us. Consider the words of Jeremiah 29:11-14>> ”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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.” (NIV)
As we speak of great stories and grand writings that lift the human spirit, we must also be aware that there are dark tales that speak of evil and dash the hopes of the reader. Perhaps the most gifted author of such dark tales is Satan. Jesus, as He describes Satan, says that Satan is a liar and has been a liar from the beginning. More than that, Satan is a murderer. If God allowed it, Satan would wipe mankind from the face of this world. But God limits Satan, and we are safe from such a sinister fate. Since Satan cannot strike mankind dead, he does the next best thing. He lies and deceives. He weaves and creates stories that captivate the imagination and appetite of people. Satan’s lies are directly intended to lead people away from God - away from God’s truth and away from the help that God desires to share with us. What is the story or truth that inspires your thinking and actions? What are you chasing? We all have a story. We all gravitate to a grand story. Make sure your story lines up with God’s story. Keep looking up!