Reconciling with our past

As we sit on the threshold of the end of 2017, we look forward to the start of a new year.  For some a new year can signal a new start.  We set new goals.  We often have a fresh optimism as we look to the future.  We have an opportunity to vow to put the past away and begin again.

There is a similar new start described in 2 Corinthians Chapter 5.  Many translations include a heading for the second half of Chapter 5 as “Ministry of Reconciliation”.  A central theme is how through Christ, God has reconciled us to Himself.  The passage from this section of scripture that I hear the most is verse 17:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.

We tend to put a lot of emphasis on the phrase “old things have passed away”.  It is very true that we become a new creation through our relationship with Christ.  We are changed.  It is also true that that our past is no longer held against us in heaven.  Our sins have been forgiven and we get to make a new start.  Some make too big a leap here and simply put their past – the people, the hurts, everything – behind them as they claim this new start.  I question if that is what we are really called to do.

Through Christ we have forgiveness of sins and through Christ the slate of our past has been wiped clean.  This is true.  I don’t think this implies that there are no ramifications or consequences from our past as we move forward as a new creation.  The people we have hurt, the wrongs we have done to others, still exist… often especially for the people from our past.  As I stated before, the heading of this section of 2 Corinthians 5 is often “Ministry of Reconciliation”.  In an equal number of translations the heading is “We are Christ’s Ambassadors”.  This heading points out another important theme of this section – when we are reconciled to God through Christ, we become Christ’s Ambassadors and are called to share the good news of our reconciliation and to seek to reconcile with others.  If we start ahead of verse 17 and then read further:

From now on, then, we do not know anyone in a purely human way.  Even if we have known Christ in a purely human way, yet now we no longer know Him in this way. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.  Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ 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 He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

We have been given the Ministry of Reconciliation.  The message of reconciliation has been committed to us.

After my husband died, I learned of several of his family members that Taylor had not spoken with during the sixteen years between him coming to faith and his death.  These family members were very confused at the outpouring of sentiment for Taylor and all of the positive, joyful memories shared by so many of our friends.  These people from Taylor’s past never got to see the “new creation” that Taylor became.  The hurts from their past experiences with Taylor were never addressed to be given an opportunity to heal.  Were there circumstances with these relationships that made it difficult (impossible?) for Taylor to be an “Ambassador of Christ” with them?  I only know that Taylor didn’t personally share with them the changes that God brought about in himself, or in his life, as a result of his relationship with Christ.  Now I try to represent the changes that I witnessed – both in Taylor and in myself – to help facilitate a discussion around a healing that only God can provide.

Now as you stand on the precipice of the end of 2017 and a new beginning in 2018, are there people or situations in your past that God would have you reconcile?