The Amazing Reconciliation

Have you ever had a disagreement with anyone?Who was first to make a move for reconciliation—you, the other person, or neither party? The truth is, at one time or another, we’ve all probably had a disagreement, a dispute, or even an enmity with someone in which reconciliation was needed. What causes disputes?Offense. Relationships are often broken because someone violates or offends the other. Do you know…?Are you aware that there is an enmity between God and every man or woman that is yet to be saved? Yes, there is, really. In Romans 8:7, Paul writes, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” Likewise, James 4:4 says, “…Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” You may believe you are a good person—maybe even a godly person. But if you are yet to be saved, you are at enmity with God. What’s the cause of the enmity?Sin. Sin is violation of God’s law. Sin is offense against God. And sin is the cause of man’s separation from God. “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Until your sin is forgiven and blotted out, no matter who you are and how “good” you may be, you are at enmity with God. So, who would make the first move—God or man?GREAT NEWS: God made the first move! God loved mankind so much that over 2000 years ago He made the first move to reconcile you to Himself. Consider the following Scriptures:“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10). God has demonstrated His amazing love and compassion toward sinful mankind by offering His Son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sins. When Jesus died on the cross, He suffered in our place so that we can be forgiven and reconciled back to Him. What an amazing love—the Offended came to the offender and paid a great price for reconciliation! This is the good news of the gospel—a Savior given to mankind, sins forgiven, peace with God, and good will toward men, … all paid for by God through His Son Jesus Christ, … all for love’s sake. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17). What great news of reconciliation! But wait, there is more!God didn’t just make and pay for the reconciliation. Did you know that God is even pleading with you to receive the reconciliation? “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:19-21). Why would a holy God be pleading with sinful man? It’s because of His incredible love for mankind. This is the amazing reconciliation. So, what’s your response?God is waiting for you to respond to His love and plea and be reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ His Son. You can do this by believing that (1) Jesus died for your sins, He was buried, and He resurrected on the third day, and that (2) through His sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection, He has obtained forgiveness of sin and reconciliation to God for you. If you believe this in your heart, pray and tell God you repent of your sins, ask God for the forgiveness of all your sins, and invite Jesus Christ to come into your heart and be the Lord and Savior of your life. These are the steps you can take to receive salvation. The Bible says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10). This is the greatest reconciliation: the one between you and God. Respond to it immediately. Your soul depends on it. It’s God’s amazing reconciliation. It’s the good news.