The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.

Mark 1:15

I went on a nice run yesterday and found myself returning to these foundational words of Jesus that kick off Mark’s account of the gospel (the story of Jesus). I think they are of critical importance if we are to make sense of either the New Testament or our own lives of faith. These opening words are the backbone of Jesus’ message and they reveal Jesus’ perspective on what’s taking place in the world.

Unfortunately, Jesus’ perspective and message have largely been lost. This loss has resulted in a loss of understanding and meaning. Today, a religious person might be inclined to think that repentance is the rough equivalent of being sorry for doing the wrong things. Perhaps it is regret for immoral thoughts or behaviors. This doesn’t at all fit what Jesus is talking about.

What Jesus is saying here is that something has happened in the world and that we’re going to have to rethink everything we thought we knew about the world in light of what has happened. And because of what has happened, we are going to have to live differently in response to the new circumstances in which we now find ourselves.

Repentance isn’t about being sorry for some moral failure as we’re going about our 21st century American lives. It is about recognizing that God’s redemptive mission for all of creation is underway. It is about recognizing that we are living in the midst of this story – that God’s story is our story, too. It’s about recognizing that we’re RIGHT NOW taking our places in an eternal story just like all those people we read about in the Bible. It’s about recognizing that WE are the servants in Jesus’ parable (Luke 19) who are deciding their fate in his eternal kingdom by how we live in response to the fact that Jesus is King.

If we want to make sense of the Bible and if we want to make sense of our own lives, this is the place we’re going to have to start (just like Jesus said). We’re not Americans sorting out jobs and finances and family dynamics. Those details will all blow away like smoke in the wind. Every single person you know is living before God within an eternal story. Every single person you know is ALREADY taking their place in God’s eternal story.

So yes. We need to rethink some things. We need to start living in light of the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Sure, let’s try to be nice and moral along the way, but what we’re really talking about is how we’re taking our places before the King of all creation.

Once we get this right and in view, the New Testament will come to life like never before. Our lives will make sense. We’ll see this world clearly enough to live well for all the days that God gives us until we stand before him.