The claims and call of Christ do not come in a vacuum. The Bible is essentially a story of God's redemptive mission to a people in trouble - a love and rescue story (despite the denial of many that they are in trouble).

In it's briefest form the story goes like this:

God created the universe out of his goodness and desire to express his love in covenant relationship with humanity, which God loves beyond understanding.

Despite God's love, humanity chose independence from God, with almost endless negative consequences. In this decision, humanity in fact played into the hands of Satan who in rebellion against God, seeking to destroy God's creation and if possible take God's place. Satan doesn't 'fight fair,' including the use of 'false flag' techniques. We therefore experience life as 'not being fair' and this experience confuses many. As a result many are angry with God, blaming Him for the actions of Satan.

Rather than ignoring us or saying 'serves them right,' God chose a slave-people out of Egypt, showing them grace and seeking to help them enter into right relationship with Him by which they might bring God's restorative covenant to all the earth. The Old Testament of the Bible tells the story of the people of Israel's struggle to grasp God's gracious purpose.

Into this context God entered the world in Jesus Christ to fulfil His gracious restorative purposes, overcome sin and it's consequences and lay the foundations for a new heaven and earth in which righteousness dwells. God in Christ took the initiative and did this for us, when we were ultimately powerless to set things right, through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, defeating death and Satan's right to rule over God's creation.

In cooperating and sharing in this work of restoration, those who acknowledge Christ follow him into mission. Doing so is challenging, but God's Holy Spirit comforts and empowers us.

The battle with Satan is not yet over in that he continues to resist, but the outcome is sure. For this reason we see both, and amazingly sometimes nearly simultaneously, the results of Satan's effort to turn God's paradise into a prisoner of war camp and the Glory of God's original unchanging holy purpose for righteousness, beauty and good.

At the end of history Christ will return to end Satan's pseudo-reign, restore all things (Revelation 11:15), giving grace to those who have recognized their need of Him. The wishes of those who reject God's offer of salvation will also be honoured.

The Bible summarizes the grace of God in many times and places including:

"The Lord Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Galatians 1:4-5)

This "meta-narrative" does not explain every detail of God's work or the day-to-day events our lives, but it is true and provides a context for our worldview and the themes by which we can better understand our lives - e.g. "life as relationship with God", "life as redemptive process," "life as mission", "life as struggle against evil."

This "meta-narrative" also shapes how we face difficulties; e.g. reasons to be basically life-affirming rather than pessimistic, reasons to be motivated by God's love rather than self-centredness. My encouragement to you is to read and meditate on the Bible's account of God's mission to the world often.