If your life was authored in a book, what would be the book’s title?

Okay, that’s a trick question. Truth is, we don’t have adequate scope to determine the title because all the chapters have yet to be written. How many books have we read that held us in suspense as to how the story would unfold? Even halfway through the book, we would imagine how the ending is going to play out only to read on and discover twists and turns in the story.  Conclusions must not be drawn too soon. We may have to wait a little longer to see redemption revealed.

God writes love stories–that is, when He is permitted as Author. Hosea never thought he’d be asked of God to love an adulterous wife. Read on; the story gets better. Ruth could hardly imagine that her deep loyalty to poverty-stricken Naomi and submission to her advice to glean the fields would lead her to the threshing floor where Boaz would express his devotion. Read on; the lineage of Jesus came through her. The enemies of the Cross had no idea that their crucifixion of Jesus would fulfill the redemption of the souls of mankind. Read on; history pivoted that day.

So jumping to conclusions, way before the story’s last chapters are written, can breed despair and hopelessness. Admittedly, as I have read some books, I have stopped after a chapter or two because circumstances written therein didn’t please me. Or, I might have put the book down mid-way and failed to read the remaining chapters. Wonder what I missed.

Not all books are righteous in content; therefore they don’t hold my interest. I do admit that the ones I read about how people have overcome adversity draw my attention. We all love heroes; we vicariously learn from them. In fact, I had rather read about someone else’s adversity than to go through it myself. Truth is, though, my life is being written for others to read–and its pages will hold testimony of adversity…as well as joys.

“Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read just looking at you. Christ Himself wrote it–not with ink but with God’s living Spirit; but carved into human lives–and we publish it.” [2 Corinthians 3:3 Message]

We can easily forget that He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He only publishes good books. We just need to watch for the unfolding of new chapters and trust the Author as He carves His very nature into us…not with ink but by the Spirit.