Context For Our Times and Our Lives

Context of our times and our lives can be really helpful. Creation, Fall, Redemption and Restoration are the major, overarching sections of our context. When I became a follower of Jesus, it became clear to me that I am living out part of our Creators grand story. Understanding that we are all an extremely small, though significant part of a very long story. This helps me walk closely with God so I can fit best where God always created me to be.

Creation

The story for all of us, begins at the beginning: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 Our Creator is now, and always has been, outside of time. Do not think He made time, and us, then left us to chance attempting to figure it all out. We are created for relationship, just like our One Creator is a social being of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are also here to govern and reign over all of creation. (Genesis 1:26-28)

Fall

When people broke the only rule our Heavenly Father gave us, our fellowship with Him fell apart. And our ability to govern well fell apart as well. Our Creator, however, never broke His side of the relationship with us. He looked for us and found us hiding, in shame. Creator’s desire to restore fellowship is demonstrated by the plan that He already set in motion to restore our fellowship. (Genesis 3:15) 

Redemption

This plan was for Jesus of Nazareth to secure the redemption of all creation. (Needless to say, I am skipping over many generations of the grand narrative to give us our context.) The exchange of life by the Son of God, for our disobedience and our sin, was the only way to buy back and restore our fellowship. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead proves the Creator’s power over death that mends our separation.

We now live somewhere in this time between our redemption by Jesus and the consummation of time, some call this period the “already and not yet.” With the help of the Bible and the Holy Spirit, we are now able to understand these phases of the grand narrative. Those of us who follow Jesus are in training to reign with Him for eternity. Even now we are helping restore our mandate to govern the earth. 

We have the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us, but we are still dealing with evil and work from our earthly bodies. In the context of all time and eternity, we are extremely small. Nevertheless, we are all chosen by our Creator, and invited to participate in the grand narrative leading to the end of time. 

Restoration

Fast forward again, and we come to the book of Revelation. Many, including me, do not understand it as well as we might. I do, however, believe that our context is much closer to the final restoration of all Creation than the Fall and beginning of Redemption. I also know that relationship with Jesus is paramount. Revelation tells us part of the Telos, or ultimate goal, is the marriage supper of the Lamb, Jesus, the King of Kings with His Bride, the Church.  

These days some say Jesus will return very soon. Personally, I lean to the interpretation that I will not see His return while I am here. (Though I welcome Him anytime.) That does not mean I will sit back and relax. I suspect that those who live today, will be part of raising and training our children, and grandchildren, (depending on our ages) and their friends, to see His return. Again, I am not God and I do not know the timing. At the same time, I know it is closer every day and I do not want to be caught without my oil. Matthew 25:10 

If I am at least in the neighborhood about the context of our times, how might that affect your choices and dreams? May we all bow our hearts and lives before the Creator of all things.