Being Reconciled to God

Following Christ is infinitely more than ticking boxes.  Our flesh has an awful tendency to act in our own self-interest and take action for our desired outcomes.  Having secured entrance to heaven through the Gospel by faith in Jesus, having repented of our sins, we might imagine we have done the hard yards when the reality is God has done all.  Baptism in water is a one-time event, but fellowship with God and brothers and sisters in Christ must be maintained continuously by faith demonstrated by obedience.  Often our faith lies in a theoretical realm when it ought to be practiced presently:  to believe Jesus rose from the dead is different than believing He is alive, with us as our LORD and God.

Many times we believers (and I speak from much experience in this error) is to write-off passages of exhortation for groups or people other than myself.  I have assumed unbelief was a problem unbelievers have, not realising unbelief is a more common fault against the light of the Gospel truth in genuine believers.  The chosen people of God perished in the wilderness, unwilling to enter into the promised land by faith in God and thus unable.  It was the apostle Thomas who plainly said he would not believe Jesus was risen or seen by other eye-witnesses until he saw and touched him himself.  To him and us Jesus has revealed Himself and said in John 20, "Do not be unbelieving but believing."  Jesus did not say "Believe" as if it was chore on a to-do list and then was done, but could only be obeyed presently and continuously by believing and taking action accordingly.

In our Bible study at Calvary Chapel Sydney last night I was struck by Paul's exhortation to believers to be reconciled to God.  This is something that happens at conversion when we are born again, yet the fact Paul wrote to people in the church implies this is something we must be intentional about during our earthly pilgrimage.  Since God has given us the ministry of reconciliation and the word of reconciliation, Paul followed on in 2 Corinthians 5:20-21:  "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. ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."  To be reconciled is to restore friendly relations and to make one consistent with another, like how inventory is reconciled with a list of items in stock.  There ought to be agreement between the stock counts on paper and what is physically present in a shop or warehouse.  Jesus called His disciples servants, friends and even brethren, and the exhortation to believers is we would align ourselves with Him by faith in righteousness.

We demonstrate our love for God by loving one another in the church, and in like manner we demonstrate our being reconciled to God by being reconciled one to another.  When Jesus said we are to forgive others beyond reckoning the disciples replied with rare insight in Luke 17:5, "Increase our faith."  They understood (at least in part) the connection between releasing others from offence in recognition of God already having loosed us from an enormous debt we could never pay.  Believing our risen LORD and Saviour Jesus has washed us of all sin, imputed His righteousness to us and reconciled us with Himself moves us to be reconciled to one another.  Real friendship involves love, service and sacrifice.  We are Christ's friends if we do all He has commanded us, and being reconciled to God is an exhortation for all believers to continue taking to heart.

The Ever-Shining Light

Before travelling back from the Gold Coast yesterday, I noticed Sydney had been experiencing a lot of rain with more forecast to fall.  Our flight was delayed due to high winds and I wondered how the stormy weather along the east of Australia would increase turbulence.  The weather was fine in the Gold Coast--and even better above the clouds.

From my vantage point in a window seat the aircraft was bathed in sunlight as we flew above a light blanket of clouds.  The images of clouds expected to drop heavy rainfalls according to the radar were not dark or foreboding at all from above.  Many times I have looked up to see dark clouds gathering in the sky and wondered if I brought an umbrella along.  But from the pressurised cabin high above such thoughts never entered my mind because flying above the storm provided a fresh perspective impossible for me to obtain by my own power alone.

This is a great thing for us to remember with our limited perspectives during dark and troubled seasons on earth:  above the clouds the sun still shines.  There is light shining when all seems dark and dreary, and there is clear calmness above the rising flood.  Even when we cannot see the sun because it is obscured by clouds or the earth itself, we know it will rise and set every day according to God's flawless design.  Knowing Jesus is the Light of the World who spoke the sun into existence, we can look to Him beyond the troubles we can see and enter into the rest, peace, joy and comfort only He provides.

The time came for us to descend through the clouds and rain and land on the tarmac, wet from all the rain.  From above it did not look like it could be raining, even as from below I could not see the sun shining.  Both were a reality, though I could not see them at the same time.  Praise God that even when bad things happen God is good, and all that God allows for His sovereign purposes He can also redeem.  We may not be able to understand or comprehend what that is or how it could be possible, but in knowing the almighty God we know everything is possible for Him.  When we look to our LORD and Saviour Jesus we need not be troubled or afraid because He was, is and will ever be.  He lives, and we live through Him.

Life Out of Death

Today I walked through the Macdonald section of Tamborine Mountain and came across an enormous stump of a tree that fell some time ago.  It was of impressive size and a reminder that even the most seemingly solid, strong and longstanding specimens can only stand for limited time.

The almost solid canopy high overhead was broken where the large tree once stood, and light from above flooded the area.  I was surprised by the many smaller trees that were taken out when the great tree fell, gnarled and uprooted underneath.  The fall of the great tree impacted many other trees, a silent testimony of the damage a fall can have on others that spoke volumes.  As I walked the circuit there were many examples in various stages of decomposition.

But it was not all bad news:  the gap in the canopy allows direct sunlight which quickens other trees to sprout and grow towards the light.  This tree for many years had been likely suffering from an insect infestation that bored holes in the timber and reduced it to mush.  It was only a matter of time before the tree fell and made way for the regeneration of lush foliage that will grow high and strong.

The proof of revival was in the place where the tree fell, for trees large and small have begun to grow.  No tree could be the same one that fell, but the opportunity for others to reach such heights was now afforded all others that for some time had been overshadowed.  What is amazing is how God is able to bring revival to a stump like in the case of king Nebuchadnezzar.  His pride and subsequent fall did not mean he was destined to rot but to realise after 7 years the greatness and majesty of God.  His glory was restored to him.

Praise the LORD God is able to bring life out of death.  Jesus said in John 12:24, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."  What is seen in the natural realm is true in the spiritual realm as Jesus demonstrated by His death and resurrection.  His temporary death made eternal life possible, for Jesus brought forth new creations redeemed with His own blood.  The Light of the World Jesus has shone forth, and we thus are enabled to grow in grace and the knowledge of God by the Holy Spirit given to us.  Having slain death, Jesus is the Gate to eternal life opened to us.  He bids us to arise and stand by His side now and forever.

Wealth and God's Word

God who remains the same yesterday, today and forever has provided perfect continuity in His word.  There are hints, shadows, allusions and types that reveal spiritual truth to mankind so we might know Him and rejoice in His goodness and salvation.  Unless God revealed the truth to us by the Holy Spirit, we could never make these critical connections.  Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, "Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, ² all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ³ all ate the same spiritual food, ⁴ and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ."

This passage drips with divine purpose to connect God's miraculous works among the children of Israel to the work Jesus Christ does in the life of believers in the present.  God has done countless things in the past we are unaware of or forget about, and Paul reminded Christians how God delivered the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt.  Their passage through the Red Sea spoke of being baptised in obedience and identification with God who was faithful to save and deliver them.  They ate manna provided from heaven and drank the water that flowed from the rock--that pointed to Jesus Christ the Rock of Salvation who alone gives the Living Water of the Holy Spirit to all who trust in Him.

John came with a baptism of repentance from sin in the Jordan River, and the children of Israel cross the Jordan when the previous generation died in the wilderness for their unbelief and refusal to enter into the land God promised to give them.  Led by the presence of God and without getting wet they went from the wilderness side of the Jordan to the land flowing with milk and honey, their inheritance God graciously provided for them.  One thing believers often did as a first order of business under the new covenant of the Gospel was to be baptised in identification and obedience to Christ who saves us from sin, death and Satan.  Our baptism is one that identifies with Christ's death and resurrection and coming out of the water is a symbol of the glorious life and future we enter into by faith in Jesus today.

How rich is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and what glorious truths are uncovered in God's word as we consider His faithful dealings with His people!  Knowledge of what God has done even in ancient history enriches our appreciation of God's goodness and character and strengthens our faith to trust God in all seasons of life.  We can follow Christ's leading today with confidence in the power of the Holy Spirit, for He is faithful and His mercy endures forever.  We are His inheritance, and He is ours.  What wealth is ours when we dig into God's word in faith!