Imagine with me that an auctioneer holds up a tattered book to see if by chance anyone will bid on it. There are a few laughs when an older gentleman bids on and buys the book. Why would anyone want an old dog-eared copy of a book that is falling apart. What the audience doesn't know is that the gentleman owns 9 copies of a ten set series of priceless children's stories. This book is number ten. Though the volume is in rough condition he is sure that it can be rebound and made to look as beautiful as the other nine, completing his collection.
The Apostle Paul said, "You are our epistles, written in our hearts, known and read by all men" (II Corinthians 3:2). We could substitute the word book for the word epistle in this verse. What does it mean? Our lives, like this book, are telling a story. The story that is read is different for each of us. Life has a way of dictating the story. You may feel today like the novel of your life is an old dog-eared copy that is falling apart. But God is the master book binder and he can place the pages of your life back together and rebind them. Not only that, but if there are pages missing, he can rewrite those.
All of our lives are telling a story. Not one of us is exempt from wanting to know how the story will end. Will we be a best seller or a worn out copy in a junk shop somewhere? The answer most often depends on the author. The number one determining factor for the worth of a book is the author. If the author is well known and liked then the book will be worth more. If the author was unknown or mediocre then, chances are, the book will be worth very little, no matter the age. If we try to write our own stories we may end up like the old dog-eared copy in this story. If we allow God to write upon the pages of our lives then we will be an invaluable asset to his library.
Perhaps today you feel as if your life is empty and meaningless. You may feel that the story of your life is going nowhere. Or perhaps you feel like you are the book that is falling apart. The story inside is beautiful but the circumstances of life have caused your binding to come apart so that no one can appreciate what you really have to contribute. If you will trust God to do so, he can put your life back together. It doesn't matter how long or short your story is, if you will give your pen to God, he can rewrite the story of your life. After all, he is the master author.
Sullivan Jones