A New Year's Resolution: Reconciliation

I. What Are Your New Year’s Resolutions? How about… Reconciliation?

A. Introduction: “Civilizing the Fiji Islanders”

Many years ago, when the Fiji Islands were first civilized, there was great interest in bringing commerce to this primitive society. This was a daunting prospect, considering that the natives had a particularly harrowing reputation for brutality.  Yet seeking to take advantage of the opportunity, a young merchant visited the Islands in the hopes of getting in on the ground floor.  It just so happened, as he visited the home of a certain chief, that he noticed a Bible prominently displayed, which he took to be evidence of missionary influence.  This prompted the young man to comment, “What a shame that you have listened to the foolish nonsense of the missionaries.” 

The chief, taken aback by this remark, responded saying, “Do you see the large white stone over there?  That is a stone that just a few years ago we used to smash the heads of our victims.”  Then, pointing toward the center of the village, he asked, “Do you see that large oven over there?  That is the oven where just a few years ago we used to bake the bodies of our victims before we feasted on them.”  The chief then leaned into the face of the young man and added, “Had we not listened to what you call the nonsense of the missionaries, I assure you that your head would have already been smashed on that rock and your body would already be baking in that oven.” 

B. Without from Christ’s work of reconciliation, we are all savages and estranged from Him

II. Know Where You’re Going This Year (2 Cor. 5:1-5)

A. “This world is not my home…” Jesus is preparing a place for us (John 14:1-3)

B. We long for heaven because it’s our home, not simply because it’s so miserable here

1. It isn’t just that we have the promise of heaven, or even that we’re “tired and so weary,” but it is because we know that’s where we belong

III. Know That You Can Rejoice: Your Account is Settled! (vv.6-11)

A. This is encouraging to us, and compels us to bless Him who blesses us

B. We live with our “right now” eyes of faith fixed on the future

C. As believers, this motivates EVERYTHING we do… or everything we do is motivated by something else… and we’ll answer for it one way or another

IV. Know That A Settled Account is Available to All, not Just You (vv.12-15)

A. “Knowing the fear of the Lord”—this talks about being aware of future destinies (not so much being afraid of God, but about what lies in store for each of us)

B. Don’t let people “re-evaluate” you by earthly measurements (v.12)—and believe me, they will try

C. Christ controls us: His life lived through us causes us to live for others (vv.14-15)

V. Know that Your Settled Account Makes You Brand New (vv.16-21)

A. We don’t measure by worldly metrics—we have been “remade” and ought to be above that (vv.16-17)

B. “All this is from God” (v.18)—Christ’s ministry of reconciliation is conferred on us, too, because He now is doing it… THROUGH US

C. Christ literally teaches us to LET THINGS GO—if He forgives, we must too (v.19)

D. Pursue people with reconciliation, don’t wait for them to come to you (v.20)

E. Do it because He did it for you (v.21)

VI. Conclusion

A. Be very careful not to make much out of the molehills we have hear—stuff is temporary, and so are we

B. One of the best signs of the Holy Spirit in us is the unnatural desire for legacy—not one of wealth or recognition, but one of spiritual fruit

C. Actively pursue evangelizing everyone. We are often selective with our witnessing, usually based on convenience

D. Your history doesn’t need to be a hindrance—you’re a new creation, after all—but if you feel like it is, make decisions now so that you’re sure it won’t ever be that way again