Talk about not making sense – but what a glorious reality…
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. --Colossians 1:21-23 (NIV)
The message about the cross doesn't make any sense to lost people. But for those of us who are being saved, it is God's power at work. – 1 Corinthians 1:18 (CEV)
Several months ago I started reading The Shack a novel by William P. Young. Many people had told me of the positive impact on their lives from this modern day “Pilgrim’s Progress.” So I determined to read it so I could talk intelligently about it – well at least talk about it. I never finished it, but decided to bring it with me on this trip to Nampa to finish. Remember, this is a novel and if you haven’t read it, you might not understand that God has manifested Himself to Mack as a black woman. Don’t scoff at that, just open your mind and read what I read yesterday in a conversation between God and Mack, the main character:
“Like I said, everything is about him. Creation and history are all about Jesus. He is the very center of our purpose and in him we are now fully human, so our purpose and your destiny are forever linked. You might say that we have put all our eggs in the one human basket. There is no plan B.”
“Seems pretty risky,” Mack surmised.
“Maybe for you, but not for me. There has never been a question that what I wanted from the beginning, I will get.” Papa sat forward and crossed her arms on the table. “Honey, you asked me what Jesus accomplished on the cross; so now listen to me carefully: through his death and resurrection, I am now fully reconciled to the world.”
“The whole world? You mean those who believe in you, right?”
“The whole world, Mack. All I am telling you is that reconciliation is a two way street, and I have done my part, totally, completely, finally. It is not the nature of love to force a relationship but it is the nature of love to open the way.”
People – God has reconciled Himself to us by giving His life away for us. Sounds like foolishness, doesn’t make much sense – but it’s true! We can stand “without blemish and free from accusation” in the very Presence of the Living God. So let’s not let anything stand in the way of doing our part in being reconciled to Him. Stand firm in the hope of the gospel!
“Father, You gave Yourself to us – we give ourselves to you. Amen”
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