“Be Christ’s Ambassador Reconciling Men To God!”

“Be Christ’s Ambassador Reconciling Men To God!”(II Cor.5:11-21).
One of the biggest challenges which messengers of the gospel face is the presence of detractors who try to poison the minds of believers against some messengers.
Paul was never hesitant to point out the fakeness of his challengers. Such were “those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.”
Paul speaks for us too who face such challenges when he writes, “we know what it is to fear the Lord…What we are is plain to God…Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again…”
To mature Christians here is the message: “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”
It is the LORD’s doing that in Christ we become new creations. Through Christ God has reconciled us to himself. He has given us that same ministry of reconciliation.
God reconciled the world to himself without counting people’s sins against them. And now the message of reconciliation has been committed to us. We have become ambassadors of Christ.
While it is useful to use this text to resolve conflict and reconcile opposing camps, its main import is to reconcile people to God.
Therefore, dear friend, “We implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. “ Whoever is reconciled to God cannot hold a grudge against a fellow human.
This is better expressed in the Heavenly Puss episode of Tom and Jerry. “After getting squashed by a piano while chasing Jerry, Tom finds himself ascending to Heaven. Unfortunately, due to his record of tormenting Jerry his entire life, the Gatekeepr can’t let him pass. With only an hour before the Heavenly Express leaves, Tom must get Jerry’s signature on a Certificate of Forgiveness in order to get access, otherwise he’ll be condemned to eternal torment at the paws of a devilish dog.” Unfortunately for Tom, Jerry refuses to sign the certificate. Tom misses heaven. Fortunately for him, it was only a dream!
But what we learn here is that you cannot have peace with God if you have not made peace with man! Therefore, be reconciled to God and be reconciled with one another.
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit help me to be a true ambassador of Christ pleading with men to be reconciled to God. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.