JULY 31ST
CALLED BACK INTO UNION WITH GOD (Continued)
Scripture Reading: 2 Cor 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
The second meaning of reconciliation borrowed from Webster’s Dictionary 1828 is in the business sense to adjust or to settle so as to reconcile differences. The Cross of Jesus Christ was the Divine Adjustment and Settlement of an incalculable difference. The difference is clearly defined in Romans 5:19 which states, "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." His Adjustment restored mankind to God’s Presence and favor.
As we focus on reconciliation as meaning an adjustment or exchange, there are two Scriptures concerning God’s Thought regarding weight and balance that are worth consideration. Proverbs 11:1 reads, A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. Proverbs 16:11 adds, A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work. Note the work of God’s bag versus the bag of Judas, the betraying thief (John 12:6). The Cross brought Balance back to mankind.
Jesus’ zeal for the house of God was demonstrated powerfully as He implemented God’s Thought when He dealt with the money changers and cleared the temple. There is no doubt of the use of unjust balances. After the miracle of changing water to wine at Cana and going on to and continuing in Capernaum for a while, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. John 2:13-16 describes the situation follows: 13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. As the Fulfillment of the Passover, such a scene must have been a most offensive affront to Jesus. The True Balance in the face of the false.
Merchandising was and still is a false balance. Merchandising obliterates grace and love and attempts to usurp prayer’s power. The Adjustment of the Cross was a free Gift. The Father delighted in the Cross, His Just Weight, as Isaiah foresaw when he prophesied, "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities (Isaiah 53:11)."
Jesus’ Mission was to bring the Just Balance of Righteousness back to mankind. The difference between God and man required a Divine Adjustment and Exchange that only God Himself could accomplish in Christ. To reiterate, the Cross was the Scale or the Just Weight and Balance of God. All else in ministry is a false balance and an abomination to Him. This Adjustment needs no carnal tweaking. The ministry of reconciliation requires Its original and full Weight, and the Holy Spirit will testify to It if He is asked. As an ambassador of Christ, like the Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 5:20), I pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.