02.19.03

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. - 2 Corinthians 5:17-18.

Dan Rather, the CBS evening news anchor had an interesting experience recently in Kuwait. He had the opportunity to talk with the man who tried to steal his car 12 years ago in Texas. It was a chance meeting with U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Tamarsh Thompson who is now a pilot of an Apache helicopter. Tamarsh had tried to steal Rather’s car in Fort Worth, Texas hotel parking lot. Rather decided not to press charges but did have a talk with the young man about his choices in life. Rather said about the man, “He got his life together and is putting it on the line for his country.”

We can be glad for Tamarsh that he has his life together and that he is no longer stealing cars. But does he have it together spiritually? Contrary to what some have written and said - God is in the business of helping people get their lives together and he has a long and successful record of doing so. Perhaps at the top of the list should be the apostle Paul who while known as Saul viciously persecuted the early church resulting in death and destruction. God dramatically intervened in Saul’s life on the road to Damascus where Saul encountered the risen Lord and was temporarily blinded in the process. Saul, in giving his life to the Lord became the apostle Paul with a fervor for souls that would never die.

God did the same with 11 of the 12 disciples. They were unlearned fishermen, and tax collectors but through their relationship with the Lord they gained great wisdom and courage. Their God given wisdom and courage resulted in the continued spread of the early church even in the face of persecution.

God is still helping people get their lives together today. He certainly has changed my life and continues to push, pull, provoke, and encourage me to move forward with Him. Only through His power and efforts does my life have any semblance of being together. I had no idea when I prayed to receive Christ as my Savior 33 years ago what a life changing decision I was making. Through reconciliation with God my life has meaning, and purpose. He keeps picking me up when I fall, dusting me off and saying, “continue on.” Unbelievable but true is His mercy, His grace, His love.

Want to get your life together? Allow God to come into your life through Jesus and then you’ll understand and praise Him forever. And if you already know the Lord as your Savior - remember, “…we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”