Have you ever watched one of those television programmes which reconcile family members who may have been separated for years or even most of their lives? Suddenly brothers and sisters or children and mothers and fathers who have not seen one another for ages are reunited and reconciled. Sometimes they were separated by a family argument or adoption and sometimes people cannot remember what happened to cause separation. The reconciliation though is sweet and joyful and there are tears not just from those being reunited but also from the television audience.
Reconciliation is at the heart of the Gospel. God wants to have fellowship with his creation and he has done everything necessary to bring it about. Before we became Christians we were separated from God by sin but Jesus through his death on the cross reconciled us to himself. When we ask Jesus to forgive our sins and place our lives and hearts in his hands, there is great rejoicing in heaven. We have been reconciled to God and nothing can separate us any longer from his love.
However Paul also says God has committed the message of reconciliation to us so we become his ambassadors. Ambassadors represent the interests of the one they are acting on behalf of to others. The British ambassador represents the interests of Britain in other countries. Paul says it is as though Christ were using us as ambassadors to make his appeal for reconciliation to others (II Corinthians 5: 19 – 20). Is there anyone you need to be reconciled with? Or does God want to use you in the ministry of reconciliation between himself and another? Reconciliation is a joyful event – let us do all we can to bring it to others.
