Pagans believe history is a cycle, an alternating pattern of repetition, light and darkness, good and evil, life and death. No doubt, the Lord built cycles and patterns into creation, but history is not a cycle; it is linear; it has a trajectory. There is a beginning and an end, a purpose (telos), a goal. Suffering precedes salvation. The crown comes before the cross. But there is glory at the end of the story, and the end of this story proves to be only the end of the preface.
The cycles and patterns of repetition happen within the story. They are not the story, only rhythms in the midst of it. Birth and death. Strength and weakness. Joy and sorrow. Health and illness. Prosperity and poverty. Prayer and labor. These are the rhythms that make up our lives, the time signature for the melody. But we are not singing The Song That Never Ends. Some of the parts of this song are difficult, emotional, grievous, but we keep singing because we know the song is going somewhere.
When you find yourself on the Stairs of Cirith Ungol, it may seem like the steps will never end. When you are in the blackness of Shelob’s lair, it may seem there is no way out, no light at the end of the tunnel. When evil seems to prevail in the cave on Mt. Doom and hope fails, remember that the bitter comes before the sweet. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
We are not trapped in an endless cycle of repetition, even if our lives may feel that way at times. The sun rises and sets. Man goes to his labor and returns. Man is born, and then he dies. It seems like nothing ever changes, but Christ is the Lord of history, and the Maker’s story has a purpose. It is going somewhere. Our job is to be faithful in the middle parts.
Tomorrow the Church gathers to worship the King. We will be doing the same things we do every Sunday: singing, praying, confessing, listening, communing, and encouraging. The same thing week after week, but all of this has a purpose. Worship is teleological, just like creation and history.
When you feel trapped in the washing machine of life, lift your eyes to Jesus, behold our risen and ascended King. Give thanks to him. Praise his Name. Confess that he is the Lord of history, and that you are not. Come into the Lord’s house with joy in the morning. The rest of the world may feel as if it is running in place, but God’s saints know that we are running to glory. --JME
