Believing a False Narrative!
(Fig Leaves or Fur)
Just what is a narrative? www.dictionary.com helps out –
- a story or account of events, experiences, or the like, whether true or fictitious.
- A narrative may be TRUE or FALSE.
- a story that connects and explains a carefully selected set of supposedly true events, experiences, or the like, intended to support a particular viewpoint or thesis:[1]
- The story uses CAREFULLY SELECTED events that you SUPPOSE are true.
- The narrative might be true or might be false.
- The narrative seeks to support a particular point of view or thesis – THEIR theory or hypothesis – NOT necessarily the truth.
www.merriam-webster.com contributes –
- b : a way of presenting or understanding a situation or series of events that reflects and promotes a particular point of view or set of values.[2]
Delete a few words from the above definition and see how the NARRATIVE is formed –
Once edits take over – a way of presenting a situation that promotes a particular point of view. A view the writer would love you to believe! Maybe true, but probably not!
Let me here present a NARRATIVE, an important one with eternal PERSPECTIVE. Where do I start? Call it, presuppositions. Just what do I presuppose is true, accurate, contributing to a true NARRATIVE, a proper presentation of life choices? In brief, the presuppositions of this author include the following: God is real, man is a created being. Mankind began with Adam whose early choice was to rebel against God effectively severing that relationship. God’s word, the Bible, explains what God has done for mankind to resolve that broken relationship. Call it top-down thinking! Consider this NARRATIVE – “…My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8,9) Never lose sight of the FACT that God’s ways and God’s thinking is far superior to man’s ways and man’s thinking.
Religion is bottom-up thinking – what man attempts to do by man’s efforts to gain approbation [approval] from God. Religious folk love to control the NARRATIVE and have you believe THEIR “set of values” are the best – unfortunately, what they promote is NOT necessarily what God is looking for…
Religion wants you dressed in FIG LEAVES, God wants you dressed in FUR…
Having just rebelled against God, their “eyes…were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings“. Gen. 3:7
“The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them“. Gen. 3:21
In a previous post I explained:
“…all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment”[3] Think FIG LEAVES!
Here is another – “He [God] saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy…”[4]
God offers FURS – most people prefer FIG LEAVES!
Never forget – “all [not SOME of us] have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”[5] – We all have a deficit in God’s sight and we can either let Him fix the problem [God’s grace] or we can try to fix the problem ourselves [religion]. Think religion – think “filthy” – think FIG LEAVES!
A favorable outcome only comes by letting God control the NARRATIVE. Consider God’s offer:
“For by grace [God’s grace] you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works [religion], so that no one may boast.”[6]
God does not need your efforts otherwise you would be tempted to boast – your FIG LEAVES just don’t look that good. Besides, God’s dress code is FUR, the fur only He provides. The FUR we call salvation.
Easter has just past, but think of the thief on the cross who recognized just who Jesus Christ was. Talk about last minute conversion – that thief did not walk an aisle, he did not join a church, he did not give money, he did not do a host of things religious people would love to have you do (when they control the NARRATIVE). Let God’s word control what you believe – let God’s truth be the PERSPECTIVE you trust.
“Your word is truth” Psalms 119:160
“Your word is truth” John 17:17
If you don’t know God’s word then you are forced to trust what man has to say, what NARRATIVE he places before you. The more he insists you do, the farther the NARRATIVE drifts from the truth. He’ll tell you how nice you look in your FIG LEAVES…
It’s time to trust God’s statements!
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”[7]
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”[8]
Consider the question of the Philippian jailer inquiring of the Apostle Paul,
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved? They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” [9]
Man’s NARRATIVE makes things complex, and filthy! Think FIG LEAVES.
God’s NARRATIVE makes things simple – He does the work – you wear the FUR.
So, what’s it going to be – FIG LEAVES or FUR?
[1] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/narrative (accessed 4/5/21)
[2] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/narrative (accessed 4/5/21)
[3] Isaiah 64:6
[4] Titus 3:5
[5] Romans 3:23
[6] Ephesians 2:8-9
[7] John 3:16
[8] John 3:36
[9] Acts 16:30-31