Be reconciled to God! It is still possible now!

 

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

Lailah Gifty Akita, Ghanaian, and founder of Smart Youth Volunteers Foundation said this, “There is hope for every man to return to his Maker.”

Our today’s insight says how is that possible. It says God took the first step and reconcile us to Himself. “Us” means those who are already reconciled to God because they placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, the savior. How did He reconcile us? God reconciled us to Him through the person of Jesus Christ. What else God did after this? He gave us (means to those who are already reconciled to God through Christ) the most blessed and beautiful ministry of reconciliation. He gave us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we have a message of reconciliation to share with others in the world. In this sense, we are Christ’s ambassadors. We have a divine message from God, and we have the status as the ambassadors of Christ.

An ambassador of Jesus Christ is a high calling. Ambassadors of the nation reconcile two nations by their esteemed service. We are God’s ambassadors or Christ’s ambassadors. An esteemed, highly privileged, and the highest calling you and I can get while we live in this world. You see, God makes an appeal through us to others around us who are not reconciled to God yet. What is that? Because we implore them on Christ’s behalf and say “Be reconciled to God.” How can people reconcile with God? This is how reconciliation happens. God made Jesus Christ who had no sin to become sin in our place. In other words, God put all our sins on Jesus Christ. The result is we do not need to be afraid and hide from the holy and righteous God as Adam and Eve did in the garden of Eden. We can stand right (and righteous) with God because Jesus Christ paid it all for us.

Bible says in John 1:12-13, “ He (God) gave the right and the power to become children of God to those who received Him (Jesus). He gave this to those who put their trust in His name. These children of God were not born of blood and of flesh and of man’s desires, but they were born of God.” All are children of God in one sense because He created all. However, there is a second birth, a birth from heaven, to inherit all that heaven offers to those who receive Jesus Christ.

Dearly beloved, Jesus Christ is the only way to God and heaven, and there is no other way out there by which we can be saved, obtain forgiveness of sins, stand right with God and possess eternal life. Some people think this is an arrogant statement to say Christ is the only savior. However, the statement or claim is not mine. This is what Jesus said. He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6). Jesus clearly with no shadow of doubt said this, “If you do not believe that I am the Christ, you will die in your sins.” The only way you and I can avoid dying in your sins and face eternity without the presence of the loving God is to believe in Jesus Christ as our savior.

Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:5, “there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” No other religious gurus you admire can or will save you. There is none out there. The only way to God is Christ Jesus and His shed blood that paid for all your sins. Sometimes the truth, nothing but the truth, may sound arrogant and offensive to many. However, the truth remains the truth. There is no other way out there to come home to God and get reconciled with Him.

Our today’s insight says, “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ…” Yes, God wants to reconcile you to Him by inviting you to come to His Son, Jesus Christ, who loved you, came into this earth, carried your sins and sorrows, died in your place for your sins, and rose again on the third day. There is no other person out there in the entire world who loved you and paid for your sins. Jesus Christ is incomparable. He is the one who defeated death by dying for our sins on the cross and rose again on the third day. The cross has one part going up and two other parts going to both sides. On the cross, He joined our sinful hands to the hands of the Holy Father God. He embraced us on both sides and joined our hands to God. He is the only true mediator between God and us. We can not compare Jesus to any other major religious gurus. He stands alone in this regard. If you come to Jesus Christ, you will be reconciled to God, the Father. Bible says in Romans 10:13, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” If you call on the name of the Lord Jesus, you will be saved as well.

I will help you to do just that now. Pray after me. “Father in heaven, thank you for talking to me today. I know Jesus Christ is my savior who died and rose again for my sins. I call on the name of the Lord Jesus. Please save me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”