Together in Christ: 'Peace through Costly Reconciliation' — Colossians 1:19-20

Our world is a broken mess because of human rebellion and sin. ^[1] When we humans chose to sin and rebel instead of trusting God's love and kindness, everything was set at odds. Creation was made subject to decay because of human depravity. Humans rebelled and went to war with each other. God was forgotten, blamed, or ignored. The created universe went from beauty, order, and specificity that "was very good" ^[2] to become hostile, capricious, and dangerous. As forcefully as Jesus said, "Peace! Be still!"  ^[3] to the raging winds and waves, He has brought peace for all the universe we know and has given us assurance of victory as we face the spiritual forces we don't see. ^[4] How? His love and grace:

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. ^[5]

Now, Jesus asks us to live in His perfect peace — the peace that the Lord has long promised for us as we trust in Him. ^[6] So, let's live in peace with people in the world around us and with each other in God's family. In the present, let's demonstrate the peace of our Lord's coming Kingdom as His Kingdom people on earth. Or, as Paul said it:

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. ^[7]