Watch/Listen
Peace And Reconciliation
Brian Mashburn
June 29, 2008
Audio Player
Peace And Reconciliation
We have a friend in 5th grade down the street. We have known him for 3 years. He was born here, is Thai in origin, and is used to way more freedom than we give our kids. There's a sign on the closet in our basement claiming that closet is his room. He likes to introduce himself with my family's last name. He calls daily to blend into the fabric of our family's day. In a heart-breaking obvious way, he is looking for belonging, reconciliation within and around himself, and peace.
God intended to bring all humanity together as a single people when He sent Jesus. Isn't He so completely unrealistic?
Does our Father not realize the enmity that exists between people? Does He expect people to overcome irreconcilable personality differences, past sins against one another, racial and cultural barriers, dividing walls of hostility, and religious distances? Does He not see the depth of the division within people groups, let alone between people groups?
Come on! Do any of us who follow Jesus really think that God's dream is attainable? Do we look at differences and think to ourselves, "Hey, there is someone so unlike me that I should reconcile myself to them, merge our lives together, and help each other square up to a place of working relationship and peace. He is my opportunity to be a part of God's dream"?
According to Paul in Ephesians 2 and 3, God is acutely aware of the powerful divisions that exist between people. He just seems to think that Christ is more powerful, and that the ideal is achievable, and Paul declares this forcefully.
Who are the people on this planet that believe and work unrealistically towards God's dream of oneness through Christ? The need around us is heart-breakingly obvious, if you will have eyes to see. While writing this, I got a call from a new friend ready to stop his self-defeating life and find peace and reconciliation with God and a people to belong to who are all about it. Do you know how to help him find peace? Do you know how to let others help you find peace?
You need to learn, if you are willing. It's God's dream. And there is no greater life.