Readings for today: Proverbs 23-24, 2 Corinthians 5:1-6:13
Who’s in control? It’s a relevant question. Especially in our current cultural moment. Some argue it should be the government. The people charged to look out for our best interests. Those who have the authority to enforce the common good. But what happens when those same entities become corrupt? Influenced by power and money? Ideologically driven? How much control should they really be given? Some argue it should be the individual. Each person is responsible for themselves. They should be trusted to look out for their own best interests. They should have the power to make their own choices. But what happens when those choices result in consequences that negatively impact others? What happens when the choices we make become abusive, neglectful, irresponsible, or self-destructive? Do we really believe we are not influenced by selfish desire? Vanity? Ambition? Addiction? How much control can we really be trusted with?
The Bible makes it clear that God is in control. Whether we want to acknowledge it or not. Whether we want to accept it or not. God reigns over the universe and all that is in it. He runs things from His control room in heaven. His hand is always on the wheel. His sees all. He hears all. He knows all. And He exercises dominion over all He has made. To be sure, the world He has created exists in a state of rebellion against His sovereign will. The devil and his demons seek to disrupt God’s designs. The human race continually rejects His control over their lives which is why we experience so much suffering and pain. Thankfully, God is patient with us. He refuses to abandon us to our fate. He is constantly at work, taking all things - including the evil of this world - and bending them towards His purposes. He will not give up. He will not let go. He will not rest until all things are set right once again. This includes us. We are God’s chosen instruments sent out to proclaim the good news of what God has done to re-assert His control over the world. In Christ, God has re-staked His claim over the world and over our lives. In Christ, He has rescued us from the dominion of the devil. In Christ, He has redeemed us and set us free.
This is the heart of the message the Apostle Paul proclaims in our reading for today. Listen to his words again…“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2)
What is salvation ultimately? It is the re-assertion of God’s sovereign control over our lives. It is our humble submission to Him as Lord. It is our acknowledgement that He now is our King. Our lives are His to command. Our resources are His to use as He sees fit. Our talent and time and energy and passion are His to direct so that He might accomplish His purposes in and through us. We are no longer our own. We are new creations. We no longer represent ourselves. We are ambassadors for Christ. We no longer get to be in control rather it is the love of Christ that controls us. What does that mean? It means we no longer regard anyone according to the flesh but treat every human being no matter their creed, color, or culture as someone beloved by God. Made in His image. A creature of inestimable worth and value in God’s sight. It means we join Christ in His mission to make disciples of all nations, starting with the people living right outside our front door. It also means the work begins right now. In this moment. For now is indeed the favorable time! Today is indeed the day of salvation!
Readings for tomorrow: Proverbs 25-27, 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1