Favorites XXI

It is not a story, but a verse.  It is not even an oft quoted verse.  It is just a verse that tells the story after the story has been told.  It is the word which reminds us of the famous radio commentator who would end his comments with "And that is the rest of the story."  It is in John 20:30 that we hear the word about the unfinished story, "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book."  Here is a reminder that there is more to the story than we could ever know.  The writers of what we know as the Old and New Testaments used a "pick and choose" method of writing the Word.  No pen could possibly tell it all.    

The final two verses in the book of Acts point us toward the untold part of the story as it says,"  He (Paul) lived there (Rome) two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance."  While we do not know the details of the story which went on those two years, we do know that the story is still being written and told now for over 2100 years.  It is a story that has no end.  It is a story that is as old as the beginning and as new as yesterday.  

Missionaries have sown seeds that have still not born the full fruit.  Prayers have been prayed that are still being held in the sacred places of eternity waiting for that moment when the time will be full and the plan of God will use those prayers for the work of the Kingdom.  Young people are seeing visions never before seen and going after them while old ones like myself are still daring to dreams of a future when "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," (Matthew 6:10) becomes reality.  No, the story of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the story which speaks of His Church is still being told.  It is the story of hearts that have been transformed by the living presence of the risen living Christ.  It is a story that transcends the ages.  It is the story of those who have come before us; it is our story; and it is the story of those who are still to come.