[Article written by Matt Nevins. Originally published in his email newsletter “The Lamp.”]
A reoccurring theme found within the Bible connected to the salvation of man’s soul, is the desire for the return of God’s children. I was reminded recently of Zechariah 1:3 where the prophet was instructed to plea for the people to “Return to Me.” The forefathers had not heeded the repeated pleas made by God’s prophets in the past which resulted in the Babylonian captivity for the nation of Judah. Their example needed to resonate with the people of Zechariah’s day in order to receive the blessings God was willing to give. The call to return is an invitation to leave wickedness and to pursue righteousness.
The same plea is made today for individuals to return to God, through means of reconciliation. It is the gospel that is the message of reconciliation that reunites man to his Creator (2 Cor. 5:18-19). As God is light (1 Jn. 1:5), we must change and become light as well in order to regain the fellowship lost because of our sins (Is. 59:2). However, we are not capable of accomplishing this of our own volition. Therefore, we are in need of a means to be justified for reconciliation. The gospel shows the way to return to God, which is through Christ. Christ is able to justify the sinner by His precious blood (Rom. 5:8-9, 1 Pet. 1:17-19). In order to be reconciled, the sinner is justified by the blood of Christ, but the sinner must come to Christ to receive the justification and reconciliation. It is Christ that calls for the sinner to come to Him.
God has done what is necessary on His part for the return of man. Christ said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Mt. 11:28-30). This invitation is still available as long as time continues. For God desires all to come to repentance, returning to Him (2 Pet. 3:9). It is our choice, as it has been granted to individuals since the Garden of Eden, to be obedient to God or rebel.
When we choose to follow Christ and we are reconciled to God, we must continue to work in order to receive the rest in the end. Paul instructed Timothy to “flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace” (2 Tim. 2:22). To flee one thing in pursuit of nothing is not sensible and one may find that they are running back to the thing they are trying to escape. When we decide to forsake our own desires, we need to pursue God’s will. Righteousness and the youthful lusts under consideration in this text are complete opposites; therefore we can see that pursuing righteousness will help us stay away from the line of sin.
As we pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, Paul told Timothy he would not have to do this alone. Timothy was to pursue these things “with those who call on the Lord from a pure hear” (2 Tim. 2:22). God does not call just one to return, but for all. We can help one another to reach the goal of heaven by working together (2 Cor. 1:24), praying for one another (Jms. 5:16), encouraging one another (Eph. 6:22), and loving one another (1 Jn. 4:7). The fact is that we are not alone, and the time will come when we will receive the reward given to all that diligently seek Him (2 Tim. 4:8, Heb. 11:6).
The nation of Judah was in need to return to God, as we also need to do from time to time. It is important to listen when someone is trying to help us by alerting us of our wrong doing. It takes courage to come to a person and try to persuade the person to repent. We will receive the goodness of God if we return and continue to stay with Him. Otherwise, we will reap the severity of God on the Day of Judgment (Rom. 11:22). Those who were disobedient in the days of old were overtaken by the word of God, and we can be overtaken as well (Zech. 1:6). Let us return to God and purpose within our own hearts to do His will.
