Were you surprised that most stories conform to just seven basic plots, but even more, all seven are different aspects of the very same, overarching story – “in the end darkness is overcome, and light wins the day?”

All seven plots are different aspects of the same, universal struggle between good and evil. This struggle exists outside of us, in the spiritual realm, between God and Satan. But the very same struggle exists within each of our hearts, and for us, is the greater challenge.

The most striking thing about all of this, is the incredible fact that storytellers do not create their stories to conform to this one basic formula on purpose. This is not their conscious intent. At least, not most of the time. But these are the stories that flow from their pens when they sit down and begin to write what is on their hearts. There is only one feasible explanation. We all know the real story, and cannot escape it, even though there is clearly another part of us that very much fights it.

This struggle exists because God gave us free will, and there is something in us that just wants to be independent, to be in charge of our own lives. It seems reasonable in a way, something adults should be capable of. But it is not. It is more like that rebellious look you see in the eyes of your two-year old who just wants his way.

Life was not meant to work with us in charge, for we are not gods, but subjects. Our fallen hearts have caused us to wander . . . the struggle will be to find our way back.

For this reason, the story of the prodigal son from Luke 15 represents our basic struggle better than any other single story I can think of. It includes the two basic ways in which we stray, self-indulgence on the one hand, and self-righteousness and moralism on the other. More importantly, the story makes clear that neither leads to the good life we seek, but only to misery. The only way we can truly be happy is to turn and repent of our independent strivings, our desire to make sense of this life on our own, and return “home” to the Father.

The Jesus Storybook Bible by Susan Lloyd-Jones has sold over four million copies. As with other children’s books, stories, and movies, it has become so popular because not only do children love it, but adults. As adults, and as the disciplinarians we have to be with our children, we usually focus on the importance of obedience, rules and responsibility, etc. These things are important, but they are just not that compelling. Susan Lloyd-Jones chose to start our story in a different way and I believe it’s the reason her book has done so well.

When we fell in the Garden it was because of our rebellious decision to be in charge of our own lives. It was disobedient, wrong, sinful, however you want to say that. But none of this could have happened unless something else also failed. The things of this world would have never looked good to us, better, in fact, than God; unless we somehow, possibly in the very same moment, lost our conviction . . . of just how much God loves us.

This is what Susan Lloyd-Jones decided to start with, and this story moves us. When Satan whispers in Eve’s ear, Susan Lloyd-Jones said it was the lie that “God doesn’t love you.” She said this lie would continue to “live on in every human heart.” More than anything else, I believe this is what we lost in the Fall, not God’s love, we could never lose that — but our conviction that He loves us. And we have been reeling ever since.

To make it even clearer, Susan Lloyd-Jones puts this truth into a phrase, one she repeats throughout her book. She says:

“You see, no matter what, in spite of everything, God would love his children – with a Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.”

Amen.

Next time.

Sam

The Jesus Storybook Bible, Susan Lloyd-Jones, Zondervan, 2007