North Anderson Baptist Church
Everyone loves a great story. But with every great story, comes a GREAT plot. In many cases, there are multiple plots to each story.
As a young teenager, I was captivated by Frankenstein. I loved seeing and reading from the point of view of Victor, and the monster he created. Most people in here understand that when we become enticed by a great plot, it is almost impossible to put the book down, or turn off the audio book.
Often times when we read a book, we “dog ear” pages and highlight our favorite parts so that we can go back later and reread them in the future
Yet there are many books that have no “dog-eared” pages. In those books, many of us edit as we read, thinking of ways we could have made the story better.
ME
When it comes to the story of my own life, I have many Dog-eared pages, times in my life that I like to re-read. But I also have chapters that I never want to revisit.
I often times question why the author chose to include those chapters, and often times wish to send those chapters back for revision. But I can’t, because my story has already been published.
Psalms 139:16 NIV
I am/You are a small part in God’s redemptive story. I want to take some time to share with you my story.
Early Years
· Born 1 of 5 children
· At 6 months old moved to Harrogate, England (3 Years)
· Moved to Australia (5.5 Years)
o Dad was in DOD
o Dad worked all the time
o Mom was in charge of taking care of all 5 of us.
I struggled as a young child with love. I knew and understood that mom and dad loved me, but I was not receiving it the way I thought I should be. Mom was so busy with the rest of the kids, dad was never home.
· Moved back to the United States in 2000
o Had to live with grandma for a couple of months until we found a house
· Mom and dad divorced shortly after moving into our new home
I struggled with this, and so did Mom. Dad received majority custody of us and mom, after so many years of having us, was left to 2 weekends a month with us.
Teen years
As a teen, my lust for attention and love was at an all-time high. I did whatever it took to be noticed, loved, and appreciated.
· Drugs and alcohol
· Disrespect
· Following the ways of this world
I did all of this while professing to be a believer at church. And I had deceived myself into believing that this was the case.
In church I wanted to be loved, so I acted right, I loved others, I knew scripture, I volunteered with my family, and everyone around me in that setting believed that I was a follower of Jesus.
I was the EXACT OPPOSITE as soon as I left the church building
· Prideful
· Viewed others as ways to lift myself up
· Served myself
· Loved myself
· Lied over and over again to everyone, even myself
TRUE Salvation
At 17, I helped lead a youth winter retreat with my youth pastor to Tennessee. Myself, and a lot of other youth and volunteers went.
I had no idea or intention to experience what I experienced.
What I experienced on that retreat is the very first sign of conviction that I had really ever had.
God confronted me, showed me who I really was, and revealed to me my need for a savior.
· I was in a quandary.
o What would everyone think?
o I’m supposed to be a leader?
o How can I step up and make this public decision in front of all these people I have deceived for so long?
God allowed me to eat a big piece of humble pie that night. I had to humble myself, step out in faith, and give my life to Jesus. And it was the greatest decision I have ever made.
Life Since
· Camp McCall
· CSU
o Leaving the friends and relationships that were so detrimental to me
o Time of Growth
o God has allowed me since to return home and regain relationships with those who have seen me at my lowest point. And I have been able to share the Gospel with those friends. Many of whom have sat in this sanctuary as the Gospel was presented
· Dad Passing (not all rainbows and butterflies)
· Married Marlee
· Youth Pastor @NABC
US
Unlike many books we read, with our lives we cannot read ahead to see what will happen next.
The difference between the author of my story and any other book that I read is that I now know the author PERSONALLY. I know that He is Good and that I can trust Him.
Though we can’t know the future, we can know the past and what will ultimately happen
· Scripture gives us the backstory and the vision of where we are headed
o How the world came to be
o How sin entered in
o What God has done about it
o What God has promised about it
GOD
Over and over again in the OT, the Israelites were encouraged to follow the story that God had written for them.
They were to look back at their exodus from slavery, God’s provision in the wilderness, and God’s promises fulfilled in delivering them to the promised land.
· They celebrated this story each year with festivals and feasts
· They taught this story to their children
· The prophets reminded them of this story
· When they faced heartache and trial, they reviewed this story together
· They even prayed through the story in their confession of sin (Nehemiah 9)
They remembered God’s faithfulness, His covenant keeping, and His great mercy toward them.
Psalms 105:5-9 NIV
Invitation
Believer:
When we come to a page or a chapter in our life that makes no sense, we also need to remember and follow God’s redemptive story for us.
Though we do not know what will happen tomorrow, we know what has happened in the past and what will ultimately happen when God returns to create a New Heaven and New Earth.
Your redemptive story is one that needs to be read often
· It is the story of God’s faithfulness and goodness
Because we know the author personally, and we trust his will, we can watch our lives unfold with wonder and Awe.
Even when we get to a scene that is confusing or seems out of place, we can remember, wait, and watch, knowing that the story line is moving forward to a beautiful and glorious end (Rev. 21:1-5)
Jesus made it so when he signed the manuscript with His own blood and said “IT IS FINISHED”
Non-believer:
God has written your story for redemption (Psalm 139:16). I pray today is the day you accept that precious gift.