For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)
God Sent His Son
It is tragic when people die because that was not the plan. It is tragic when people suffer because that was not the plan. The plan was for humans to live in harmony with each other under the canopy of the rule of god in union with Him. Yet, we turned from that and embarked on seeking to do things ourselves, straying from the path of life. From belonging to the family of God, we chose to belong elsewhere. There was a problem in our connection with the source of our being, and there was nothing we could do about it. Even if we recognised the problem, our inability to overcome it only led to weeping and mourning over the lost status.
Jesus was sent to provide a route from that estranged existence in the darkness to return to the path we were always designed to walk. Jesus resolved the problem of separation by paying the price necessary for our forgiveness. That reality lifts so much that would have otherwise weighed us down in terms of relationships and in terms of what can cripple some in terms of the guilt and shame that clouds life. The forgiveness of sins sorted that aspect of things and made way for those who accept this to now experience what it is to be redeemed.
Redeemed. The price paid to purchase us back from what we were to what we were always created to be. It is not just a resolution that says we’re alright now. It’s a solution that places us in an active position to do and be everything pleasing to our creator. We are back where we belong in right relationship with God and we’re back where we belong in being members, ministers, messengers and missionaries filled with purpose to serve, share and invite others to experience the route from darkness to light.
Redeemed. The precious blood of Jesus Christ shed highlights the great price to be paid and also ensures that those who accept the purchase can rejoice in the extent to which God has gone to reclaim that which belongs to Him. This changes everything for those who accept and embrace the new status we have, now that the price has been paid.
So God sends us
We are sent with this glorious good news of what’s available to others. We have this message to share with others, especially in the hope that they will hear and turn. We are given this message and an instruction to convey it by any means possible so that every effort is made for people to hear it and respond. Woe unto us if we hide behind excuses to share this message. Woe unto us if we think that only certain people should be sharing this tremendous message that can rescue people from the tragedy of death. All other news that we could have to share should only remind us of this far superior news that we should share.
God does not just send us with a message to deliver to others. He also expects us to demonstrate what it means for the redeemed to say so. What do people who live in the light do to highlight the difference between Jesus’ redemption and what passes for normal life around them? Our relationships within the family of the redeemed are meant to demonstrate to others what it means to be forgiven and to have the capacity to forgive others. Our operation in the family is how we build each other, to present to the watching world how different things are when we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word.
Our challenge is to see what it means to be sent in this way today. What does it look like in our relationships, work activities, serving, and conversations? How can we reflect on being a redeemed people because of the work of Jesus Christ to redeem us? How do we express that on the individual and communal level?
As the Father sent the Son, He is sending us.
For His Name’s Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
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