reconciliation – Authentic Hope for Answers

Everything hinges on one key decision.

As you struggle with the profound existential issues that overwhelm the sensitive soul; as you think through what could be the real purpose of your life; as you wonder if there’s a God who could possibly help you; as you resist the temptation to put an end to it all – there is one key decision that confronts you.

You don’t have to go on a long pilgrimage; you don’t have to follow a three-year university course; you don’t have to master some obscure concepts, and you don’t have to pass some test of endurance.

You have to be humble, open to be taught that the life-philosophy you hold dear may well be wrong. You have to realise that no atheistic worldview can offer you the serious answers you seek. You have to consider not “religion”, but rather God himself, because whether you realise it yet or not, God has demonstrated his existence in coming by a historic incarnation into this world: Jesus Christ is the proof that God exists, and if you do not know that yet, a thoughtful reading of the four Gospels recounting his life, his teaching, his divine claims, his miraculous ministry, his atoning death, and his triumphant resurrection will lead you to conclude that God has indeed sent his divine Son into the world to give us the answers we seek. Jesus said he “came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19.10); human beings without Christ are lost. He is the key we need to be “saved”.

Jesus is able to save you from your ignorance, for he is “the light of the world” (John 8.12). He is able to reveal to you how much God loves you, for “God so loved the world (including you) that he gave his only Son (Jesus) that whoever (including you) believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3.16). He is able to enter your life by his life-giving Spirit, as if you were born again into a completely wonderful life in relationship with the God who loves you; he is knocking at the door of your heart, eager to come in and forgive all your failures and sins, and renew you in a life that has real meaning and purpose.

Millions the world over have experienced this new life that Jesus gives; it is what corresponds to the deepest needs of our soul. Until we experience this, we are lost, confused and guilty, wandering hopelessly to no apparent purpose. Jesus can heal your inner being; he can save your soul; he can give you new life.

It all hinges on one thing. Surprisingly, one decision, clearly and resolutely taken, can lift you out of the darkness of despair and bring you to the joy of a real, harmonious relationship with God. One decision involving willingness to be made anew. One decision that you will hold to in the days to come. It all hinges on you calling upon the name of Jesus, opening your heart and saying, “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, the sinner; cleanse me from my sins; make me born again; come into my heart and be my Lord and Saviour; I will follow you with all my heart”.

This prayer of faith and commitment is the key to experiencing God’s loving presence, and proving to yourself that He is real, for he is eager to answer that prayer when it is sincerely prayed. Your wavering and doubting will be over; a relationship with God will begin.

Clive Every-Clayton

For us to enter into the fullness of life that God desires for us – in harmonious relationship with him – we need to hear his call. This call comes to us through the biblical appeal: “be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5.20).

Friends who are already in agreement with each other do not need to be reconciled; it is enemies who need to be brought together! This call therefore takes as given that there is enmity between God and us, the human beings he calls. This is indeed the situation – whether our attitude towards God is one of quiet indifference to what he wants of us, or one of open rebellion against all he stands for. Either way, we are sinners in his eyes – and yet he calls us! He desires us to be reconciled to him.

It is true that on his side, there is displeasure as he views our life-style of careless disobedience. This means we cannot experience the warmth of his approval, but rather may rightly fear his ultimate judgment.

That’s why it is so wonderful that God, full of love, takes the initiative in reconciliation: He took a giant step towards us in sending his dear Son: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself” (2 Corinthians 5.19). He thus showed his love – “not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4.10). It was not that we were so good that God is pleased to welcome us; rather “it was while we were yet sinners” that “Christ died for us”. Only on that basis can we be forgiven and accepted into a warm relationship with God. So the first step towards reconciliation with God happened twenty centuries ago!

Now we are called to respond: “be reconciled to God”. This involves two things. First, we turn to God with gratitude that through the death of Christ all our sins and evil deeds may be totally wiped away, cleansed and forgiven, and God’s loving arms may embrace us. We thank Him for such mercy and pardon, purchased for us at the cost of the cross, where Christ’s love was shown as he gave himself in our place.

Secondly, to be reconciled to God, we have to give up our rebellion – be it tacit or open – and embrace our Saviour as the Lord who we will henceforth seek to please. It is this repentant submission to Christ as our Lord, and trust in him as our Saviour, that effectively reconciles us to God. And that is what introduces us into a good relationship with God.

This new relationship with a loving heavenly Father will develop as we grow in faith and obedience. To commit our lives to Christ is only the beginning; but there must be that first commitment – hence the call: “Be reconciled to God”.

Once you have made that commitment – to the risen Lord Jesus Christ himself, in prayer – you can share the believer’s faith expressed in Romans 5.10: “When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son” – and “now having been reconciled, we shall be saved” – saved from the punishment that our sins deserved, through Christ having washed them all away.

Then you can also take part in the believer’s mission: God “reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” … so “like ambassadors for Christ”, we call out to others: “Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5.18-20).

Clive Every-Clayton