adminNico Fereira —
We often talk about reconciliation in Zimbabwe but has it been achieved? We can only answer this question after understanding what reconciliation means. To reconcile is to bring two or more people back into a friendly relationship after a dispute.
When God created Adam and Eve, they had an intimate relationship with Him, walking and talking together every day. God allowed Adam and Eve great freedom as they enjoyed life in the garden. However, He forbade them to eat from the tree “of the knowledge of good and evil”. In essence, God was saying, “I get to decide what is good and bad for you. You will have to depend on me to tell you what is good and bad.”
But Adam and Eve wanted to decide for themselves what they could or could not do without having to ask God. They wanted to be independent of God.
To say to God, “I want to live without you”, is the ultimate rebellion. Further, it is the worst offence a man can commit against God as we can see from the result – death took over.
Ever since the original rebellion, all men and women have been born in a state of spiritual death, unable to relate to the God that mankind offended so seriously. Further, the separation from God that began at birth continues beyond death for eternity.
However – and this is overwhelmingly good news – God decided to pave the way for reconciliation. God chose to punish Jesus in your place, so that you could be reconciled to Him. Provided, that is, that you want God to be in charge of your life. If you don’t, then you are part of the independence rebellion.
We have been reconciled to God through the shed blood and torn body of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ gave His life so that we could become friends with God again. All this, God did for us! Our part is to submit to God and give Him control.
So where do we go from here? It is time for us to enter into the ministry of reconciliation. Now is the time for us to become ambassadors for Christ. The born again child of God should live in the way that Jesus Christ reconciled us to God.
We should live in a way that restores relationships with people from all walks of life, forgiving others as we have been forgiven by God, loving others as we have been loved by Christ, serving others in the Lord’s name and counting it an honour to do as Jesus did for His disciples.
Has reconciliation been achieved in Zimbabwe? Not yet. It is work in progress. We have a choice to make – either we enter into the ministry of reconciliation and become co-workers with Christ or we reject this great invitation and join the world in fortifying barriers between people – barriers that give the devil the licence to steal, kill and destroy.
So church, what is your choice?
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