The Middle of the Story

His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:29-33 ESV).

 

Thus far in the last two days I have shown that God has a wonderful beginning for all of us that leads to a spectacular ending. The question then becomes what about the middle of the story. If you’re at all like me, the beginning was not so bad; and, I am convinced that the ending will be great. It’s the middle of the story that often causes me to wonder if it really is going well. We all know that something always happens in the middle of a story. And, it is often a “cliff-hanger.” The characters in the story need to set out on a new adventure, or they need to deal with new problems or needs that arise and need fixing. We call that the plot of the story. It’s the plot that gives me most of my trouble. I have been told that a good story usually involves some kind of trouble: some problem to be fixed or a situation to be resolved.

 

I know you remember the story of the Three Little Pigs. They each had very comfortable houses to live in, although they had never encountered the Big Bad Wolf. Without the antagonist in the story, they would have simply lived in their houses of straw, sticks, and bricks. It’s the trouble in the story that draws us to the edge of our seats, wondering, “What’s going to happen next?” The entire “middle of the story” revolves around the danger of their comfortable lives as they felt safe in the houses of straw, sticks, and bricks. Well, we know how that turned out!

 

The story of the Bible begins wonderfully. However, it quickly charges directly into the worst trouble imaginable. By the third chapter the entire creation has been ruined by the main characters. As a perfect world crashes into its curse, we discover that somebody needs to do something. And, there is the big question. Sometimes we still feel that way. Here’s the good news… this is God’s story. The world is broken, but he already provided everything necessary to fix it. Jesus said, “But take heart; I have overcome the world” (v. 33). Whatever mess your life is in… take heart. We are overcomers in Jesus!