Happily Ever After
Life isn't always easy. In fact, it seems more often than not life is pretty hard. There is real struggle, pain, and suffering in this life. Yet, in the midst of all the brokenness, I believe there is hope. Some may think differently, but I believe the stories that hold the most "true to life" kind of truth are the ones with happy endings. When the prince saves the princess, when the beauty transforms the beast, and when all is made right; when there is a wedding and a happily ever after.
I'm not some storybook optimist with his head in the clouds. Actually, those who know me would probably say the opposite. I see the world as it is, filled with brokenness and sorrow. Even so, while brokenness may be our current situation, I know the ending, and it’s not more of the same. Like J.R.R. Tolkien says, all those happy ending fairytales point to the True Story, the "underlying Reality" that we connect with when we hear those stories: the gospel itself! Timothy Keller, in his book Kings Cross writes, "The gospel is the ultimate story that shows victory coming out of defeat, strength coming out of weakness, life coming out of death, rescue from abandonment. And because it is a true story, it gives us hope because we know life is really like that." My wedding was a day filled with much happiness, but the beauty I saw that day was not only in the shining eyes of my bride; no, I knew that, just like all the best stories, my wedding day was pointing beyond itself to the greatest story ever told: the story of the gospel.
What is the gospel? It is the most amazing thing that’s ever been done and that ever will be done! It is the True Story we are all called into. It is the fulfillment of all longing and the destruction of all fear. The gospel is "God with us.” Jesus, the one and only Son of God, came into the world to be with us, died for us, and on the third day, rose from the dead, overthrowing death, sin, darkness, and everything that ever stood between us and Him. Now, through faith in Jesus, we have happy endings in the midst of suffering, for all is done and all is won. While life may hurt now, through Jesus, even our worst hurts will be turned into great joy on the Day that He comes to bring us Home, when all things are made new, and we celebrate the great wedding feast of Christ and His Church.
As followers of Christ, we can have hope because there is a Prince coming to our rescue. There will be a wedding and a happily ever after. We will spend all eternity with God where there will be no tears, no fears, and no pain. May this hope lead you into a life of comfort and courage; a life lived for Jesus, the King!