What Sort of Tale Have We Fallen Into?

“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”—Matt. 24:44

One of my favorite scenes in The Lord of the Rings is not an action scene or a love scene. It comes from the lips of an ordinary hobbit (Samwise Gamgee) who finds himself miles from home, accompanying his master (Frodo Baggins) on his quest. As the two of them pick their way through the stinking fens, climb sheer cliffs, and hide from their enemies, he muses out loud, “I wonder what sort of tale we’ve fallen into.”

Do you ever wonder that?

Beyond just an interesting question, it is a life-shaping question.

If we believe the evolutionary narrative our culture tells us, that our lives began with a big bang and has randomly evolved over millions of years to get where we are today, that’s bound to shape us. If the self-help books that rank #1 on the bestseller lists are any indication, we are fed the lie that we are evolving in ever better versions of ourselves.

However, if we believe that there is another narrative at work, another Story that has begun in eternity past and will continue into eternity future, if we believe there is a purposeful Creator-King and Author behind the world we live in, that’s going to shape our lives too.

So…what sort of tale have we fallen into?

Beyond being a guidebook for life, beyond shaping who we are becoming as followers of Christ, the Bible tells us God’s great Story: the story of God’s people, living in God’s place, under God’s rule and blessing (Graeme Goldsworthy).

It tells us that the King created this world to be beautiful, designed humanity to live in fellowship with Him, and intended us to be His image bearers and representatives.

It explains that before the first child was even born, a rival king slithered in and tempted, twisted, and turned everything around.

However the Story doesn’t stop there. The true King intends to return again, and He will conquer the enemy, even if it comes at great cost to Himself (Gen. 3:15).

So the rest of the Bible unfolds how God does this, through varied stories of people and nations. Over and over, we see Him call out His people, restore them to Himself, and then equip them to go out and do the work on His behalf.

Interestingly He chooses flawed individuals: barren couples, tricksters, forgotten shepherds. So it is no surprise that when the King comes, it is not on a charger, but in the form of a helpless baby.

Though unseen by all except a pack of shepherds, His entry into the world, His life and ministry, His death and resurrection, will be the turning point of all history.

This event will change the trajectory for all eternity. At Christmas we celebrate His long awaited return: The King has returned to His people, in this broken world, to rule and bless His own.

Like the saints of old, we too waiting—this time for Him to come again. And like them, we want to be ready and waiting. As we wait, we work—being fruitful and multiplying more disciple makers as we follow Him ourselves.

This, my friends, is the tale we have fallen into. Knowing this should change everything about how we live.

If you have yet to know Jesus as King, I urge you to change allegiances before He comes again.

If you have been called by Him to be His own, I urge you to not waste your time pursuing alternate gods. The Bible calls that adultery. I beg you not to seek them for your satisfaction. The Bible calls that idolatry.

Instead, I implore you to live out your faith by declaring your allegiance to the King and living in the power of the Spirit that lives in us. As we enter into this Christmas season, we are remembering that the King who came once as a humble baby will return a second time to reign over all.

When we do, we will live out the Story in our lives right here, right now.

We still live in this rival kingdom. But it will not always be this way. The King will return.

May remembering His first coming prepare you for His next. Will you be ready?