“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
Recently, a friend gave me this card, and it made me think. Do I really want to be the author of my own life story? As an author, I create characters for my stories, and their “lives” are completely in my control. With the clickety-clack of a few keys on my computer, I not only create a physical image, but I design a personality as well. Their essence takes shape through my words, which also take them through their lives, and ultimately, their final outcome. (I confess I like happy endings, so my tales usually end that way although the journey is often bumpy!)
My life, however, is another story. (No pun intended!) It has its ups and downs. That plans that I have made are in no way guaranteed to come to pass. My life is definitely not under my control. I cannot type my day out, nor can I orchestrate happy endings on a daily basis. But I don’t have to worry about it because my life is being written by Someone who does order my steps every day (Proverbs 37:23), and He has promised a very happy ending in my future! The author of my life is Jesus! Hebrews 12:2 says that the Son of God is the author and finisher of my faith!
As an author, I often encounter obstacles when I write. Sometimes I hit the proverbial writer’s block, and a story may go unfinished for months. Why? Because I don’t know where I am going with a certain character or situation. Not so with the author of my life. Jesus knows exactly the path I need to walk, and in doing so, I have peace in my life. 1 Corinthains 14:33 states, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” Each step is taken by following in His footsteps! It’s impossible to get lost unless I purposefully stray from the narrow path upon which He leads. And even then, He restores me and brings me back to the paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3).
Sometimes when I reread chapters that I’ve written, I make major changes because the writing has not turned out the way I had hoped. Revisions often take more time than the original writing! But Jesus never makes a mistake in my life’s story. I may veer off the major plot line, but He always brings me back to where I need to be to keep my story on track until it reaches that happy ending He has promised (Philippians 1:6).
Jesus knows every word of my life story intimately. He has written it in the deepest red, and it is imprinted in His hands, His feet, His side, and most importantly, His heart!
I can’t wait to see what’s in the next chapter!
In letters of crimson God wrote His love
On a hillside so long, long ago
For you and for me Jesus died
And love’s greatest story was told
(from “Written in Red” by Gordon Jensen)
“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” Hebrews 5:9
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Who’s writing your life story?