Return to Me

The main message of the Bible is simply, “God solving man’s sin problem.”  From Genesis to Revelation, God is working in the lives of His created beings to restore the loving, harmonious relationship sin has destroyed.  The Scriptures are more than reminders of how we humans have “messed up.”  Every book, every command, every incident, every plea on the part of God has been inspired in order to urge sinners to give up their selfishness and return to Him. 

Many of the biblical stories center on God’s desire to restore fellowship: men with other men exemplifying the possibility of men returning to fellowship with God Himself.  The most famous accounts are Jacob and Esau (Genesis 33), Joseph and his brothers (Genesis 45), the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16), among many others.  God sums up this basic desire of His beautifully in the last Old Testament book: “‘Return to me, and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty” (Malachi 3:7).

Then the New Testament tells about man’s ability to return to God’s fellowship through the atoning work of Christ on the cross.  This was, in fact, Jesus’ main mission (Luke 19:10).  The truly amazing thing about this restoration of fellowship with God lies in the fact that the One offended by our sin has done all of the work to make returning to Him in loving fellowship a possibility for everyone!  He Himself came to live as one of us, faced life the way we are expected to, overcame all sin and paid the price for sin that we owed.  That’s why all of God’s promises (to save, love, forgive, restore, etc.) find their “Yes” in Jesus (2 Cor. 1:20).

Paul makes reconciliation the central theme of his gospel message (Romans 5:9-11) and urges all disciples to do the same (2 Cor. 5:18-21).  It’s the New Testament version of God’s constant plea to “Return to me.”  It’s a perfect example of how much He wants each one of us near Him so that He can bless all of us in unimaginable ways (2 Cor. 9:15).

What will you do in order to make this desire of God’s a reality?  Can anything of this life compare to what He is offering?

Free yourself of the selfish restraints that are keeping you from enjoying the relationship you most need – and the one your Creator originally designed for you.

Doug