The Vision – Part 2

2 Corinthians 5:14 “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died.”

The love of God compels us ... to “compel” means that we strive in the race toward the prize of the upward calling of God. We may not know the exact direction, road conditions, or the obstacles along the course ahead, but we're called to run the race and stay the course. We know the finish line and destination. The love of Christ is the motivation. We're convinced that Christ died for all who put their faith in Him .... He gave his life for others, not because they were deserving but because of His love, mercy and grace. He was bruised and crushed for our transgressions, and upon him was laid the iniquity of us all. We're compelled to stay the course because Jesus gave His all for us.  Verse 15-16 says: “and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.’

We have been called to love others because of the love with which He loved us. King David was known as “a man after God's own heart”. His passion was to follow after God. However, he was also a man of worldly passion and often gave in to his lust. Ah, the fools that God chooses. Michelangelo worked with a piece of flawed marble when he sculpted his masterpiece, the statue of David. Likewise, God himself worked with David to shape him into the man that God intended him to be. He who began a good work in us will perform until the day of Christ so that we may be presentable unto him. By grace, God sees our “perfection in Christ” and not the flaws in our human nature. According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Galatians 2:20 says, “I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me and the life that I now live, I live by faith of the one who loved me and gave himself for me.”  According to 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For He who was without sin was made the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

God always makes decisions for us with our best interest in mind. As sovereign Lord, He orchestrates things behind the scene that we will never know this side of heaven. Even though things might look like bad news from our earthly perspective, all things work together for good to those who love him  and are called according to his purpose.  When we come to the place that we need no validation or vindication for ourselves, and we look to bless others and not ourselves, we will share in the fellowship of Christ. We will be able to see from the perspective of “the love of God” when we focus on the first commandment:  thou shalt have no other Gods between God's face and my face.

Our challenge is to see ourselves, not as a flawed chunk of marble, but rather as a "people after God's own heart." For we, having been saved by his grace, are poem, his masterpiece, his “magnum opus” created in Christ Jesus unto good works which he has foreordained that we should walk therein.

May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ, Michael