The Bible tells us of a great story. It is exciting to read because you too are a character in it. “The Lord says: I have loved you with an everlasting love” tells you what this story is all about. It is all about “For God so loved the world.”
This story has a beginning and an end. The beginning talks about creation and how man and woman were created on earth in God’s image. It talks about how man sinned and was separated from God. Even today you bear God’s image.
But the glory has departed. Even today, you feel the struggle between good and evil within you, because your first parents sinned. You want to do good, but cannot. And the evil you do not want to do, you do. This is the great drama and conflict that rages within every human heart.
But God is concerned. You will understand that God is involved in human history more than you think if you can read the Bible as the unfolding of a great story of God’s dealing with mankind. To make Himself known to the world, God selected individuals who trusted Him. So the story becomes personal.
Amazingly, you will not find any other god in human religions who reveals himself to man as a personal God other than the God of the Bible. Even though He is majestic in holiness and awesome in glory and working wonders, He makes Himself available and dwells with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit.
As you read the Bible you will find God building a nation through individuals and families. Through that God was creating a context to enter the world in a very personal way. He became man. Jesus! Immanuel, God with us.
And at the Cross of Calvary, He shed His blood; for without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. This one act brought about the real possibility of man being reconciled to God and also able to find peace with God. Therefore those who come to God through Jesus are no longer condemned because they have passed from death to life and from darkness to light.
But God is yet to show His full love to those who trust in His Son Jesus. What God has prepared for those who love Him; no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived! The Bible Story ends with some glimpses into the future where the sheer beauty of God’s new creation is shown with God and the Lamb dwelling with man. Then God will wipe every tear from their eyes. The Spirit of God says, ``Come!”
All this is very near. Evil will reach its highest on earth. But then He, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Jesus, will come: “Behold, I am coming soon!”
As you read the Bible as an unfolding story you will find God speaking throughout the pages of the Bible. You will also find man’s response as prayers and conversations with God. When He is about to come again, can you say, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
