We’re following Christ in a fallen world cursed by sin. It’s a hard place to love like Him. It’s also precisely why we’re so desperate for real love – because “we all make many mistakes” (James 3:2 emphasis added). The world’s love is utterly selfish and self-focused. The love of Christ seeks the best interests of the beloved. If I see loving interactions between fallen, redeemed people, I know that there’s real power at work. But if I see jealousy and selfish ambition, then I know that true faith, real transformation of the heart, hasn’t taken place.
To remain as we are and never come closer to Christ or to one another is evidence of self-righteousness. I’m good enough already. I’m not doing anything wrong. I don’t need to change. That kind of righteousness erects a barrier between you and everyone else. It might possibly make you a good person, but it won’t be enough to save you. We’re not good enough. We can’t go on as we were. We need a change so complete that it’s akin to dying and being born again as an entirely new person.
It’s our enemy’s intention that our self-righteousness leads to discord and fighting in the very place God intends unity, oneness, wholeness. It’s God’s intention, and His instruction, that love cover a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7). It will be necessary for us to put up with much in the pursuit of living at peace with others. And that’s hard. But it’s also worth it – we were made for intimate relationships with Him and with one another. We’re so much better together.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they will express God’s character and be called His children” (Matt 5:9 AMP paraphrase). It was only a few breaths later that He said, “If you’re standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God” (Matt 5:23-24). Our relationships matter.
Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker. He secured a permanent peace between God and us when we were still His enemies and really didn’t deserve anything other than His anger.
Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled by others and became slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy. We hated others, and they hated us. But then God our Savior showed us his kindness and love. He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did. He declared us not guilty because of his great kindness. Titus 3:3-7
By His mercy God made an escape route from the judgment we deserved. His forgiveness paved a path to peace. When we come into conflict with others, His actions show us the way forward.
It’s not just that Jesus put an end to the hostilities, although that’s miraculous enough. He also reconciled us, restored the relationship, made it possible for things to be the way they were originally supposed to be. Reconciliation. Restoration. Unity. With God and with one another. That’s the prize at the end of the race.