The Ministry of Reconciliation

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the fear of God elicits the desire to persuade others to obtain same knowledge. For it is borne out of the love of God. The kind of love that compels us through conviction to share with others that which we have freely received. The conviction is that of the dead of Christ for all. A substitutionary death in place of everyone who, as a result of the human condition stood condemned to death. But Christ became that substitute, that none should die again because he took that death upon himself. That was the ‘payment’ for sin.

When we know that we who were supposed to die as a consequence of our sinful nature no longer stand condemned, that we no longer bear the guilt and consequences, it melts our hearts to the point of gratitude and honour and praise to the one who took our place, the one who bore it all, the one who suffered shame that we may not have to do so. Everything bad about us became everything that he took upon himself to give us everything good about himself. He was made sin (our sins) so that we may become his righteousness. So that we may imbibe or appropriate his goodness unto ourselves.  Goodness is only found in him and that goodness he bestowed upon us when he reconciled us back to God by way of the cross. So that we no longer stand condemned but acquitted and not just acquitted but blessed with immeasurable blessings.

This is the kind of love and blessings that compels us to live not for ourselves but for him who died and was raised again 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. The question then becomes; what does he want from us? Or how do we live for him? Does it mean that we can no longer do what we please? Well, what he wants from us is the appreciation of his reconciliatory works. He wants us to have a full knowledge and understanding of the depth of love he has for us; it is this knowledge that brings about humility and submission to his dictates. Oh, so does it mean that he will now dictate for us how we live our lives. Yes… but his ways are simple, there are not difficult. In fact, it is to our advantage that he has asked us to live according to his dictates. Because, ordinarily we are selfish, we are arrogant, our heart is wicked and can contemplate all sorts of evil. But when we yield to him and follow his lead, we become transformed into his image, the image of the invisible God. We become a blessing not only to ourselves but to the world around us. It becomes easier to turn the other chick, it becomes easier to seek the good of other people, it becomes easier to live in peace with one another and to reconcile others to God.

The Blessed Morrow

Amidst the darkness, storm, and sorrow,
One bright gleam I see;
Well I know the blessed morrow
Christ will come for me.
’Midst the light, and peace, and glory
Of the Father’s home,
Christ for me is watching, waiting,
Waiting till I come.

Long the blessed Guide has led me
By the desert road;
Now I see the golden towers,
City of my God.
There, amidst the love and glory,
He is waiting yet;
On His hands a name is graven
He can ne’er forget.

There, amidst the songs of heaven,
Sweeter to His ear
Is the footfall through the desert,
Ever drawing near.
There, made ready are the mansions,
Radiant, still, and fair;
But the Bride the Father gave Him
Yet is wanting there.

Who is this who comes to meet me
On the desert way,
As the Morning Star foretelling
God’s unclouded day?
He it is who came to win me
On the Cross of shame;
In His glory well I know Him
Evermore the same.

Oh the blessed joy of meeting,
All the desert past!
Oh the wondrous words of greeting
He shall speak at last!
He and I together entering
Those fair courts above
He and I together sharing
All the Father’s love.

Where no shade nor stain can enter,
Nor the gold be dim,
In that holiness unsullied,
I shall walk with Him.
Meet companion then for Jesus,
From Him, for Him, made
Glory of God’s grace for ever
There in me displayed.

He who in His hour of sorrow
Bore the curse alone;
I who through the lonely desert
Trod where He had gone;
He and I, in that bright glory,
One deep joy shall share
Mine, to be for ever with Him;
His, that I am there.

GERHARD TERSTEEGEN, 1697-1789

Justified by faith

In numerous discussions with people around the world and especially with people in the western world, one of the many things that is evident is the concept of good and evil. A lot of people naturally believe that they are good people because they do not kill nor steal nor covet other people’s properties. Therefore, they think that they are “good” people who are morally upright. It makes sense for them to believe that they will make it to heaven as some claim. It also makes sense for them to assume that our “goodness” is what justifies us or what puts us in a right standing with God. This thinking makes it difficult for some people to see how a righteous God could condemn them. This thinking assumes that all God requires is moral uprightness from our current perspective. Such thinking or concept could not be farther from the truth. Consider what the apostle Paul wrote to the Romans in chapter five verse one:

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Justification is by faith and by faith only. Being in a right-standing with God cannot possibly come from our own righteousness or good works because no man on his own can please God. No one is “good” enough by virtue of his moral uprightness to meet the standard of God. The Jews of old tried to meet that upright standard, but God himself said it was a difficult and indeed impossible agenda hence the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

According to the apostle Paul, justification brings peace with God. So, without the finished work of Jesus Christ, we are but people who are at loggerheads with God, people at war with God. But the work of Jesus brings about peace between us and God and so our good works cannot on their own, put us in right standing with God, outside of Christ.

So, the justification opens the doors of heaven to whosoever will believe his word and obey. It is easier than a lot of people may think. It is simply a matter of faith and acceptance of our infallibility. The route to eternal life is by faith.

The Source of Calm Repose

Thou hidden Source of calm repose,
Thou all-sufficient Love Divine,
My help and refuge from my foes,
Secure I am, if Thou art mine;
And lo! from sin, and grief, and shame,
I hide me, Jesus, in Thy Name.

Thy mighty Name salvation is,
And keeps my happy soul above;
Comfort it brings, and power, and peace,
And joy, and everlasting love;
To me, with Thy dear Name, are given
Pardon, and holiness, and heaven.

Jesus, my all in all Thou art;
My rest in toil, my ease in pain,
The medicine of my broken heart;
In war my peace, in loss my gain,
My smile beneath the tyrants frown,
In shame my glory and my crown:

In want my plentiful supply,
In weakness my almighty power;
In bonds my perfect liberty,
My light in Satan’s darkest hour;
My joy in grief, my shield in strife,
In death my everlasting life.

CHARLES WESLEY, 1707-1788

The Disciple to His Lord

Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth Thee;
Thou art my God, in Thee I live and move;
Oh, let Thy loving Spirit lead me forth
Into the land of righteousness and love.

Thy love the law and impulse of my soul,
Thy righteousness its fitness and its plea,
Thy loving Spirit mercy’s sweet control
To make me liker, draw me nearer Thee.

My highest hope to be where, Lord, Thou art,
To lose myself in Thee my richest gain,
To do Thy will the habit of my heart,
To grieve the Spirit my severest pain.

Thy smile my sunshine, all my peace from thence,
From self alone what could that peace destroy?
Thy joy my sorrow at the least offence,
My sorrow that I am not more Thy joy.

JOHN S. B. MONSELL, 1811-1875

Peace that Surpasses all Understanding

Peace transcends understanding. This is interesting because Solomon the wise man said; in all your getting get understanding. It is sound to get wisdom and understanding. Good to be able to tell why certain things happen the way they do. Great to understand nature and how God in his wisdom brought about the things we see. In fact, it is wonderful to understand or have insight into the mysteries of God having been called into the light, which is God’s kingdom. But the apostle Paul in writing to the Philippians said:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Phil 4:6-7

The peace of God is said to surpass or transcend ALL understanding. Hold on; at this point, we need to slow down a bit and look at what we think peace is.

The dictionary definition of peace is the absence of war or freedom from disturbance i.e. tranquillity. In fact, the bible may even allude to that definition when we think of what Jesus said to the sea, “Peace be still”. Jesus, in essence, called for peace. In calling for peace, he was calling for tranquillity, he was calling for the absence of turbulence. So, quite rightly put, peace may be seen as the absence of disturbance.

This kind of peace is also made clear in several situations in the Old Testament; one such case is recorded in Proverbs: 16:7:

When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

God brings about the cessation of hostility towards the one whose life is pleasing to Him. The psalmist talked about this kind of peace, which we still see in the world today when organisations like the United Nations send peacekeepers to a war-torn country. The psalmist said:

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14

This type of peace can be sought after or pursued. Christians are encouraged to strive to live in peace with all men (1 Pet 3:11).

But then, this is simple and easy to understand. So, what then is the peace of God which is said to surpass understanding?

If we look a little closer at the message of the apostle Paul, it was that of encouragement. He was writing to encourage the Philippians to make their request known to God through prayer and thanksgiving. When they do that, the peace that surpasses understanding will guard their hearts and minds in Christ.

If we relate this to what Jesus said to his 12 apostles before his death, we notice something interesting:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Here, Jesus told the apostles of how they were going to be scattered and how they will suffer persecution. He made them aware that the very people who will persecute them will believe themselves to be doing the will of God. Hence, he forewarned them to be of God cheer. So that they may be able to have a certain kind of peace. Peace in the middle of a storm, the type of peace that Jesus exhibited when he was fast asleep during a storm.

Jesus told them about the peace of God, the kind of peace that sees victory in persecution. The peace that generates belief in difficult circumstances.

This is the peace that God alone can give. Jesus said to his disciples:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. – John 14:27

Therefore, whatever storm we may be going through, we need the peace of God, so that we may not be afraid, but say like David, “though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil for God is with me, his rod and his staff, they comfort me”.

So how do we get this peace of God? It is multiplied through the knowledge of God and the Lord Jesus (2 Pet 1:2). Just as our faith is built from hearing the word of God, the peace of God is multiplied through the knowledge of God. When we know what God can do, and has promised to do for us, we can safely sleep in the middle of a storm, because we know that having handed our cares to him in all thanksgiving. We are as safe in the middle of the storm as though we were without any storm. One confederate army general once said:

“I am as safe in the battlefield as I am in my bedroom if I am in the will of God.”

That is the definition of the peace of God that transcends human understanding.