Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Sunday, January 4, 2 Corinthians 5 14-19

"For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

"From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."

I woke up a little nostalgic this morning. These verses reminded me of a song from our old vinyl "Shekinah", written by my buddy and fellow band member Bruce Labadie, way back in 1982. I left a link below.

"Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? Why am I here?", was a famous quote coined by some philosopher. When man lost their foundation through the Fall, they also lost their meaning. This is shown big time in the Tower of Babel, where everyone scattered by the great miracle of God changing the languages, forcing them to populate the world. And God narrowed down His revelation to the Hebrews, beginning with the call of Abraham, and became known as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And He chose that through his Seed all nations would be blessed.

The Jews lost their way, yet God kept His promise, and Christ, the Seed of Abraham came into the world. Through Him the nations will are being blessed. It was remedied in a big way at Pentecost, where the Spirit, in tongues like fire, came upon the Twelve, and everyone could hear the gospel preached to them in their own language. And during these "times of the Gentiles", the opportunity to be "grafted in" is being accomplished, and through Christ, God is "making both One".

The Jews were blinded and scattered during this period, leaving only a remnant, called by Paul "the Israel of God", who are Jews turning to Christ along with the Gentile believers. But when Christ returns, He will open their eyes and the whole nation will turn again to Him, and He will rule in Jerusalem, with all nations being blessed once again through its gates.

So through the revelation of "the mystery of Christ", we know Who we are, where we came from, where we are going, and why we are here." Those who believe are the "new creation" of God (2 Corinthians 5:17). They've found their true purpose. They came from a lost, sinful, disobedient people to become the children of God (John 1:12-13).

And where are they going? Wherever God leads: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10) And what are the works of God? To believe on Him whom He has sent (John 6:29).

Which also shows why we are here: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. God therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)

With this goal in mind: "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

So, as my buddy Bruce concluded in the song: "I know who I am, I know where I came from, I know where I'm going, I know why I'm here."

Do you?

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

Memory Helps:

Go to church!