Photo by Banter Snaps on Unsplash
Dear Easter People,
“ALLELUIA! CHRIST IS RISEN! …”
When I was in the Air Force, I worked in the Pentagon on the Joint Staff. I worked for a Vice Admiral (a 3-star flag officer) who made important decisions about major military projects –from weapons to facilities. As he attended meetings with other high-ranking officials, I often sat in the room to take notes and provide advice if needed … usually it wasn’t needed. One day, a crisis erupted and the Vice Admiral left the meeting as a key decision was being made. He turned to me and had me sit in his place. There I was, an Air Force Lieutenant Colonel seated with Generals, Admirals, and civilian Senior Executives. And when it came time to decide, they looked at me. My word counted as much as theirs. I was, in essence, the Admiral’s ambassador. I spoke for him, under his authority, in accordance with his desires.
St. Paul reminds us, “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:19) Ever since Adam and Eve fell from grace, desiring to be like God (Genesis 3:1-6) God’s been working to restore the relationship between Him and His creation, including mankind, that was torn to pieces by Adam and Eve’s sin. Because of their selfish act, all creation was put into conflict with God. But this isn’t what God desires! God created all things “good” and desires all things be in right relationship with Him. This act of restoring relationships between creation and God, and within creation, is called “reconciliation.” Reconciliation is what God’s story, found in the Bible, is all about.
Eventually, when the time was right, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ into the world (Romans 5:6) to carry out His ministry of reconciliation. Jesus paid the price of death on a cross for the sins of all mankind. Then, rising from the dead to new life, He restored the fallen creation to new life also. All who “confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) But, many in the world wonder, “Who is Jesus? Where is Jesus? I don’t see Him or hear Him.” God knew these kinds of questions would come up. So …
He tells us, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation … All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) God’s still at work reconciling His creation to Himself. He’s working through His ambassadors … you and me. We have been given the authority to speak His Word of truth in love to the world. We do this so all who’re lost and broken, still in conflict with God, can also be reconciled to Him.
I pray we all use the many gifts God has given us – time, talent, and treasure – in proportion to what He’s blessed us with, as His ambassadors, in His ministry of reconciliation. Then one day, we’ll all stand together in the new creation dwelling with God, in His presence, as He has always intended (Revelation 21:1-7).
“… HE IS RISEN INDEED! ALLELUIA!”
In the Love of our Risen Savior,
Pastor Jim