I am an author. I flesh out my storyline with characters who live and breathe and move in my head. When I’m working on a biblical fiction story, the framework is provided. I must invent people who could commit those particular actions. If I’m crafting my own invention, the sky’s the limit.

As the author, I design the characters, layering their strengths, skills, and passions. I insert the weaknesses inherent in their natures. Sin has formed that twist. From my keyboard, free will, cognition, and self awareness are bestowed.

And then, God-like, I set the imaginary people free. Off they go. Staying true to their personalities, I construct the story. I play God.

free photo, crazy man eating apple

Once created, my characters often run amuck.

They take the story in directions I couldn’t ascertain before I wrote flesh and blood onto them. I’m only a human author. My characters often surprise me. Once they’re rampaging across the pages, I gain new insight into each one. Letting the characters be themselves enriches the story, making it satisfying and intimate.

Writing fiction has opened my eyes to Jesus as The Author.

Arche is a word from the original language of the New Testament. Used alone and with suffixes added, when translated into English these words label Jesus as:

  • The Author of Salvation
  • The Author and Perfecter of our Faith
  • The Beginning or The Active Cause
  • The Great High Priest
  • The Chief Shepherd

Our Author is omniscient. He is already intimately acquainted with our inherent flaws and weaknesses, and he knows what we will do because of them. He knows how the story will go. The all-knowing Author is never surprised.

Shandi-lee {pieces} Shandi-lee Cox via Compfight

As a human author, I love my characters. I want to show them mercy. I hate inflicting hardship upon them—I cry when I must! But it is necessary for the soul-satisfying results of growth, victory, and triumph. Overcoming produces a rewarding end.

So it is with our Author. He shepherds our souls, causing whatever difficulty or blessing is required for our good, but he sympathizes. Jesus weeps. He orchestrates the story to redeem our flaws, right our wrongs, and win our hearts.

The Author is benevolent. Since there is sin and tragedy, he wrote himself into the story, offering himself as the solution, living out his own tragedy to redeem ours. He plays the Hero, sweeping in to rescue us, laying down his life to win us and make us his own. As Arche he causes our faith and instills our belief.

jesus closeup on crossAs the Lover, our Author acts the most significant part. We crave sacrificial, selfless love. He does everything necessary to gain our hearts, whatever it takes. At the movies, when the hero does this, it moves us. The Author knows this. This is how he woos. This is who he is.

For those who love him in return, our Author crafts a victorious happy ending. He promises to judge those who harm us. This is what we desire—justice, the awareness that a just God sees. At the movies, when the white horse comes over the hill, we cheer because justice will prevail. This is how The Author designed us. We need this.

stairway to heaven,creationswap

Crafting the story to meet the most deeply felt needs of his living characters, our Author will end his story with a victory—the bad guys will be vanquished and every difficulty overcome!

He knows what we need and designs our story accordingly. When we follow his directorial notes, our lives go more smoothly. Whether we do or not, he intervenes, saving us from ourselves and guiding our stories to a victorious conclusion, complete with a reward and a “Well done!”.

How does it encourage you that our Author enters our story to save the day?

 

Second and third images: Free Digital Photos Bottom image: Creationswap