Reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18. “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation:”
Walls were erected high and the barriers between us and God seemed insurmountable because of our sins. Chasms looked uncrossable with occasion faint glimpses of what it would be like to have fellowship with God. Backs between opposing people are turned and there are occasional silent looks from a distance as straight-lipped faces take cautious steps going away. What can be done to reconcile people to God and people to other people? Is there a solution or does this have to go on and on without a change?
Bibles gathering dust in original wrappings are sitting unread on high hidden shelves. Sunday morning newspapers are rattling and graceless food is eaten without a recognition of God’s grace. Knees that never bend, hymns that are never sung, and praises that are never given are evidence of thankless people. Is there no way to God? Is there no balm in Gilead for the soul? Will this distance forever remain?
Thankfully there has been divine intervention from above beginning with a night of angels’ voices and a guiding star leading to where a Child was born and a Son was given. God looked at His calendar of events and the time had come for “The Light” to come into the world. The first steps of reconciliation were made by the One who didn’t cause the separation. Man’s sin caused the problem but God extended His heart and hands and His Son when God moved closer to identify Himself with us. Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. The God-Man drew near to the lost revealing the fact that the love of Christ is real. The great act of reconciliation was made when “He hath made Him to be sin for us” – reconciliation is now possible!
Faith acts and the Bible is opened and inflexible knees gladly bow while halting words of thanks are said. Songs arise in the heart and songs in the night are sung in the silence of the heart as heartfelt praises begin and hopefully never stop. Evidence of reconciliation begins to flow when we realize “God, who hath reconciled us to Himself.” Instead of anger and embarrassment, there is gratitude. Instead of resentment toward God, there are genuine thanks. Instead of distance, there is a sense of nearness. Instead of fear of God, there is love for God. Instead of uselessness, there is a sense of purposefulness. Instead of opposing directions, there is holy fellowship.
Now that we have experienced reconciliation, we can become reconcilers. Now the walls start to drop, the barriers are removed and hope is renewed. Now the valleys have roads through them and our Lord walks with us through them. Now instead of backs turned, we catch sight of anxious faces of friends, family, and strangers and tell them of reconciliation. The fear of the Lord as we look into the future day of reckoning challenges us to be reconcilers. The love of Christ constrains us to be committed to the ministry of reconciliation. The commission of Christ motivates us to continue on even when there may be times of discouragement. We know the results of reconciliation are possible and positive when people put their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.