A Good Story Versus Your Story

I recently read a stirring local book about the murder of the Graves County Sheriff in 1922 by his deputy.  The book entitled “A Courthouse Tragedy” was written by a local lawyer and family relative to some of the key characters.  I enjoyed the book and learned much about Graves County and our city of Mayfield, KY.

purchased / copyrighted photo

purchased / copyrighted photo

Last week, I visited with a brother from Seven Oaks church of Christ where I preach who is a direct descendent of a prominent family in the story.  He had heard the story since his childhood and met the key characters.  He had met the man who pulled the trigger, his grandparents had lost their farm paying lawyer fees to provide for his trial and defense of self-defense.  He knew the man’s son who was raised by his grandparents until he was 8 and then was taken to Oklahoma when his father got out of prison.  It was a painful family story that has impacted his family to this day.

He said that the publishing of this book brought all these memories back to him and was like reopening an old wound.  He said it was difficult on him.

As I thought about his emotions and words I considered the gospel and our relationship to the story of Jesus. 

For me, the book was a good story.  I had interest because it was about my local community, but I didn’t have any personal ties to the families.  It didn’t open any old wounds.  My family had not been shaped by these events decades ago; it was just a good story.  But for this man it was emotional.  it was real.  It was his story!

As I thought about this, it occurred to me that this is the difference in the true Christian and the person of the world who has a nominal faith in Jesus.  Many in the world know the story of Jesus.  They may even have an interest in parts of it and learning more about it.  But it is not “their story!”  For the true Christian, the gospel is our story that has an emotional impact upon our lives.  The events of 2,000 years ago are real and shape our daily behavior.  The cross evokes emotions!  The story tears open our old wounds and humbles our souls.  We live in the shadow of the cross.  It is not just a story that is interesting it is our story by which we are saved!  It means everything to us.

The gospel is not just a good story, it should become your story!

“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”  (2 Corinthians 5:14–15 ESV)

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