Lessons From Stories

I have been thinking recently about how God speaks to us.  Have you ever read a book or watched a movie and thought, "I just learned something about God?"  I know I have, many times.  I took me awhile to realize why I love the favorite stories that I do.  First let's start with my favorite stories.  My absolute favorite story is Lord of the Rings.  I have read the trilogy many times, so many that I lost count at probably 5 and that was a few years ago.  Next, would probably be The Chronicles of Narnia, especially The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.  I believe this is one of the first stories I ever read on my own.  I also like the Circle series by Ted Dekker, and the Inheritance Cycle  by Christopher Paolini, to name a few.  What is it that draws me to these specific stories?  When I look at these stories, I look for common denominators.  First of all, I think that one thing that draws me to these is that the main characters are always swept up in something bigger than themselves.  They are a part of the story but not the whole story.  The second thing is that while they are not the whole story they have a pivotal role to play.  Also, there are companions that are there with them along the way.  To be a strengthening force and just someone to be there with them.  The final thing that hits me is that there are always some sort of "guide."  Someone that may be more powerful or knowledgeable, to help along the way.  These things are what draws me to certain stories.


What hits me when thinking about these stories is, there is a parallel and factors of these that go into our lives and our relationship with God and others.  There are lessons to be learned from stories.  And, I believe, that they speak much louder than any lesson, or checklist or rules that we can try to follow.  Here is why, stories speak to us in a way that lists and things of that sort can.  They can sink into our hearts much more easily.  Think about what I like about these stories.  We are swept up in a life that is so much bigger than we are.  There is so much more than meets the eye in this world.  There is the physical, which is just a part that we can see, but there is also the spiritual. The spiritual realm is so much bigger than we could imagine and there is a war going on much like these books.  However, it is a war for our hearts and our salvation.  We do have a pivotal role to play in this war.  God wants to use each and everyone of us to further His kingdom.  Like, in these stories we each have a role to play but, they are very different roles.  Friends and family are our companions in our journey through this life, and they are here to help us along and give us strength and advice.  Finally, and most importantly, is that we have the "guide."   In this case it is the best guide that one could ask for, and that is God.  He is the most powerful and knowledgeable.  The Holy Spirit guides us in our thoughts and feelings.  The Father gives us wisdom and through His word.  And finally, Jesus is the mediator between us and the Father.  This is my first real post so I hope it makes sense.