The Best News: Reconciled with God - From Hostility to Love

The message of reconciliation is truly the best news in the world. It tells us that our alienation from God has come to an end and we can now be reconciled to the Judge of the universe. This means that God is no longer against us, but for us. And when we have the omnipotent love of God on our side, it strengthens our souls and gives us the freedom to live boldly. Imagine having the strongest being in the universe on your side!

But for this message of salvation to be good news, we first need to acknowledge and accept the diagnosis in Colossians 1:21. The verse states that we were once alienated and hostile in our minds, doing evil deeds. This might not be something people readily admit. How many of us would say, "Without God's grace, I am hostile to God in my mind"? It's not a common statement. However, Paul's words here are a reminder that our hearts were indeed hostile towards the true God before we were reconciled by the blood of Christ.

So, what does it mean to be "hostile in mind" towards God? I believe it means that deep down, we have a hostility towards the true God, but we often choose to ignore or deny it. We create an image of God that aligns with our desires and preferences, a God who fits into our own understanding and rarely challenges us. We don't want to consider the possibility that we might be in serious trouble with the God who is sovereign over all things, including sickness and calamity. We prefer a God who caters to our needs and desires rather than a God who holds absolute power and authority.

But the truth is, we were all hostile towards this true God. Our hearts were filled with hatred towards His sovereignty. Yet, despite our hostility, God in His infinite grace and love chose to reconcile us to Himself through the death of Christ. It is through the sacrifice of Jesus that God conquered our hearts and caused us to love the One we once hated.

It's a process for many of us to let go of our hostility and resistance towards God. We are constantly learning not to be hostile, and it is a good thing that God is patient with us. His patience allows us the time and space to grow in our understanding and love for Him.

Throughout the Bible, we see examples of God's patience and love towards His people. In the Old Testament, we read about how the Israelites repeatedly turned away from God and worshipped idols. They were hostile towards God, yet He patiently pursued them, calling them back to Himself. In the New Testament, we see how Jesus reached out to the outcasts and sinners, showing them God's love and forgiveness. Even when faced with hostility, Jesus responded with love and grace.

One of the most powerful examples of God's patience and love is seen in the story of the prodigal son. The son squandered his inheritance and lived a life of rebellion. He was hostile towards his father and chose to live apart from him. But when he came to his senses and returned home, he was welcomed with open arms by his father. This story reminds us that no matter how far we have strayed or how hostile we have been towards God, He is always ready to welcome us back and reconcile us to Himself.

So, how can we respond to this message of reconciliation? First and foremost, we need to acknowledge our hostility towards God and recognize that we are in need of His grace. We need to humbly come before Him, confessing our sins and asking for His forgiveness. We also need to surrender our hearts and lives to Him, allowing Him to transform us and make us new.

Once we have been reconciled to God, we can experience the freedom and joy that comes from being in a right relationship with Him. We can live boldly, knowing that the strongest being in the universe is on our side. We can trust in His sovereignty and rest in His love, knowing that He is working all things together for our good.

In conclusion, the message of reconciliation is truly the best news in the world. It tells us that our alienation from God is over, and we can now be reconciled to Him through the death of Christ. It reminds us that even though we were once hostile towards God, He patiently pursued us and conquered our hearts with His love. Let us respond to this message by humbly coming before God, confessing our sins, and surrendering our lives to Him. And let us live boldly, knowing that the strongest being in the universe is on our side.