November 5, 2004

          What wonder and awe is there in the miraculous promise given us in 2 Corinthians 5:17!  “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come!”  We are not only cleansed and forgiven of our sin, but are also transformed in our spiritual essence (see 2 Peter 1:4)!  Furthermore, as we are invited to join God as instruments in His hand in transforming the world, there is bestowed upon us divine purpose and meaning!

          How awesome is His mercy towards the children of humanity that although we have collectively departed from our Creator, those who trust in Him are given the promise of hope in Christ Jesus!  “For if when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His (resurrected) life!  Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received reconciliation” (Romans 5:10-11).

          The election of 2004 has been one long saga of division and enmity between Americans.  Now that we’ve turned the final page and come to the end of that chapter, many are now speaking of a desire to somehow see the chasm between the two sides bridged.  A truly admirable goal.  But while I too hope and pray for such a reconciliation, let us not overlook a far deeper and immeasurably wider gap that separates men and women all over our planet and all through our community from a genuine relationship with God.  Nor can we overlook the unthinkable price that the Lord Himself paid in bridging that gap.

          “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:  while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

          “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 men’s sins against them.  And He has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation” (Romans 5:18-19).

          We are therefore agents of reconciliation, provided that we ourselves have been reconciled to God through faith in Christ Jesus.  Being transformed on the inside (2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 12:2) and united with Him as His presence in us takes root and bears fruit (John 15:5), we boldly lay down our grudges, lest they return to haunt us.  We swallow our pride lest it overpowers what loving words our tongues might have spoken.  With our own hands we reach out to others though they may have turned their backs on us in the past, before they slip from our reach and restoration is forever lost.

          We go in the love that moved Jesus Himself to leave Heaven’s glory in the first place (see Philippians 2:6-8) that people like you and me may be set free from sin and self into a loving relationship with God and that we might forever enjoy an eternal fellowship with each other.

          “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” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

          There is only one thing that can set the stage for peace in the hearts of Americans.  It is peace with God and thereby receiving the peace of God’s loving presence within our hearts.  Such magnification and exaltation of Christ in the heart of a Believer prepares the way for humility and graciousness to bubble up in our hearts, overcoming the fear, bitterness and resentment of those on whom they’re lavished.

          Do you want to conquer an enemy?  Love him or her to Christ Jesus.  Are you yourself tired of being captive to anger, hurt and resentment?  Do you yourself need to be set free and made new?  Then turn to Christ.  “As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.  For He says, ‘In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’  I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).

(Thom Mollohan has ministered in southern Ohio the past nine years and is the pastor of Pathway Community Church.   He and his wife are the parents of three children with another on the way!   He may be reached by email at pastorthom@pathwaygallipolis.com).