WORDS TO LIVE BY

The Author closed his eyes, sat back in his favorite writing chair, and rested his hands on the thick, blank book positioned squarely on his lap. He began to tap on the cover and listen to the resulting soft thud as if he were signaling someone and heeding their reply. He seemed to be calling to the book and it was answering. After a few exchanges, he concluded this next book in the series would be about Jack. 

The Author saw the substance of Jack in his mind before the character was ever placed on paper. He knew the secret thoughts he had for this being and held them close until the time was ripe. At last, the Author picked up his pen to form this glorious creation on the cover of the book. He crafted Jack in his image, depositing a little of himself within, and fashioned him to be like previous characters in the series, yet different in his own way. Jack was the Author’s workmanship, fearfully and wonderfully made. How marvelous was this work!

The Author allowed his fingers to trace the cover before opening the book. He knew the plans he had for Jack—plans to prosper him and not to harm him, plans to give him hope and a future. Nevertheless, Jack was created with free will to forgo the Author’s plans for his own. The Author felt the foreknown pangs of hurt for the choices Jack would make, as he gazed upon the innocence of this individual standing on the first page of the rest of his life. 

Jack stood beside a bookcase, not knowing what to do next. The Author formally introduced himself (although they intimately knew each during the development process), and he drew Jack’s attention to the hundreds of white, blank pages in the book. He explained to Jack that this was his story, to be told by himself. With that, the Author sketched a black ink pen for Jack to make his indelible mark on this world and suggested he use the bookcase for learning and reference. The Author then exhorted Jack to go forth and multiply, subdue his world, and fulfill his purpose.

Jack wasted no time getting started, but was slow on the uptake owing to the steep learning curve, especially when it came to expressing himself. Not only did he need to learn to walk before running, he also had to figure out how to navigate the obstacles along the way. It didn’t take Jack long to get the hang of things, and he loved blazing his own path—maybe loved it too much.

Jack relished the idea of being in control and doing things on his own. Pride crept in as he began to disregard any help or advice from others. He became puffed up and full of himself, leaving no more room for the Author in his life. Lost in his own doings, Jack veered off the path intended for him and relinquished himself to one mistake after another. He attempted to hide his misdeeds by scratching them out with more ink, but alas, he only made a bigger mess. Eventually he found himself drowning in a sea of blackness as his sins consumed him.

With nowhere else to turn, Jack called out for the Author and threw up desperate hands hoping to touch the Author in the space above the page. “Please save me from myself! Hide your face from my sins and blot out either my iniquity or me. Please shine your light into my abyss.”

The Author replied, “I am he who blots out your transgressions and remembers your sins no more.” Immediately after the declaration, the Author whipped out his special correction ink and began to dab over Jack’s transgressions. 

Overwhelming joy and gratitude washed over Jack. “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered! Your love has covered a multitude of my sins! I was lost in the blackness of death, but now I am found! Was blind, but now I see!” 

Jack realized he couldn’t continue to do life his way. He repented and tried to hand over his black ink pen to the Author; however, the Author explained that Jack must tell his own story, in his own words. Then he made Jack a guarantee: “I will go with you and never forsake you. Every time you seek me, you will find me. When you call upon me, and I will listen. I will be with you always. When you pass through the waters, they shall not overflow you; when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned.” 

Jack replied, “I can do nothing on my own. I seek not my own will, but the will of you who sent me.”

“Go be the salt and the light your world needs. Write down your story so that others may use it. You will not be alone in this endeavor. I’m with you always, to the end of the age.”

After blotting out the transgressions, regrets, and other errors, the Author turned to a blank page for Jack to start writing again. It was the fresh start Jack needed. The story of Jack poured out with combined effort: Jack operating in his free will and the Author ready to help when needed by placing notes and signs along his path for direction. Jack also began to see the importance of the bookcase and used it every chance he had.

Although Jack still had the occasional problem, he found hope in the Author always being there for him. Each time he made a mistake, he didn’t try to conceal it like before, but immediately called out for help, and the Author always obliged. 

Jack developed a great love for the Author and strove to demonstrate the Author’s essence and character in his own life. Oftentimes, Jack would record in the book the words he heard his Author speak, and he vowed to tell others of the Author’s righteous acts and wondrous deeds. He sought to proclaim his might to another generation, and to all those coming after him. 

True to his word, the Author never forsook Jack in all his days and was with him to the end. Eventually, Jack grew tired, though, and his pen ran dry. The Author (and now the finisher) of Jack’s faith picked up where he left off and penned the last words in the book: “Well done, my good and faithful one. You fought the good fight, finished your race, and kept the faith.” Jack’s life on paper was now complete and only the legacy of it remained.

The Author closed the book about Jack’s story and placed it in its rightful spot on the bookcase, beside the book about Jack’s grandfather. He returned to his favorite writing chair and plucked a new book from his stash in the basket beside it. He slowly rolled the book back and forth in his hands until it came to a rest on both palms. Staring at the book, his eyes brimmed with liquid joy as he contemplated the potential in this new life. He lifted the book gently to inhale the freshness of the empty pages, yet knowing that once written, the book would bear an even sweeter aroma. He laid the book across his lap and adorned it with a title: Jack’s Grandson and His Story. While this would be a short story, only a couple pages, it would have the power to change lives for generations to come, just like Jack’s story. 

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children. We will not hide from the children the things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us, but will tell the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and of His might, and the wonders that He has done. (Derived from Proverbs 13:22 and Psalm 78:3-4)

If you enjoyed this blog and would like to read my future ones, please submit your email under the “Follow by Email” tab on the sidebar. By doing this, each time I post a new blog, it will be emailed automatically to you, and you won’t have to watch social media for the links. I promise to not use your email for solicitation or mass distributions. Also, I would love to hear from you, so please drop a comment below, even if it’s just to say hello.