God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19, NLT)
An elderly couple rode in the front seat of their car at a time when bench seats were standard. As usual, the aged husband was behind the wheel as his wife sat close to the passenger window. A large gap lay between them. The wife reminded her husband of how it used to be when they were first married. While traveling, they sat close together, with no space between them. "What happened?" she inquired. After a pause, her husband turned his head towards her. Smiling, he asked, "Who moved?"
We moved! When created, humanity had an intimate relationship with God. Adam and Eve's sin altered that. It caused a gulf between them and their creator. They ran from God, trying to hide from His presence. Humanity became spiritually lost, alienated and helpless. Could the lost sheep seek the shepherd? No! The shepherd had to seek the hapless sheep. In other words, God had to take the initiative, and He did.
He sent the Messiah to this earth, who stretched His arms on the cross to bridge the giant rift between a holy God and sinful humanity. Christ took our sin, guilt, and punishment, although "He knew no sin Himself" (2 Cor. 5:21).
Did He not also bear our separation? Was not Jesus' agonizing cry from the cross, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt 27:46). Yet through Christ's righteous sacrifice, did not God become reconciled to us? Surely! "When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son" (Rom. 5:10). This means that through Christ, God is "no longer counting people's sins against them" (2 Cor. 5:19). Wow!
Then why are people still alienated from their creator? The problem is not on God's side but ours. Unfortunately, humanity is fleeing God, driven by the winds of guilt and fear. Humanity is hanging onto a distorted picture of our heavenly Father, that He's against us, ready to strike with thunderbolts of condemnation. But the word tells us otherwise. God is chasing after us to befriend us and save us. Therefore, the problem lies in our unconverted hearts. We must "be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20).
For this cause, God sends His ambassadors throughout the earth to plead His case. They are to tell others that sin's barrier has fallen through Christ. No one needs to run or hide. God is for them, not against them.
Have you allowed God to catch you? If not, do so this very day. If you have and are experiencing God's love and friendship, then do not keep this joy to yourself. As His representative, you are to plead to the estranged to “Come back to God!'" (2 Cor. 5:20). To this end, the church has the ministry of reconciliation. Be a faithful emissary of it. Tell others that God longs for a personal and eternal relationship with them. Even more, show them.
