Completing the Connection

By: Dale Weckbacher

Ephesians 2:13

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

(ESV)

Looked at as a whole, the Bible constitutes a love story full of love and hope, but also tragedy and betrayal.  It begins in Genesis with God the powerful creator creating a beautiful perfect world for his greatest creation, man (Genesis 2:8).  He then creates woman to be man’s help mate (Genesis 2:18-23). 

God created man and woman to have freedom of choice and placed them in His beautiful garden with only one rule, they can eat the fruit of any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17).  While following this one simple rule seems simple enough, enter the deceiver Satan (Genesis3:1).  Adam and Eve tragically fall prey to Satan’s deceiving words, tragically separating them from God their creator (Genesis 3:2-24). 

If the cannon of Scripture ended there, humanity would have tragically been destroyed left to their own sinful ways.  Fortunately, God, in the middle of his evicting Adam and Eve, makes a promise of a savior who will defeat the deceptive serpent, Satan (Genesis 3:15).  The remainder of Scripture is the unveiling of this plan of salvation with the formation of the Nation of Israel the nation from which the promised Savior or Messiah would come.  With the birth of Christ and ultimately His death, burial, and resurrection, the connection with God that was lost in the Garden of Eden is restored. 

Ephesians 2:11-22 speaks of believers in Christ being one in Christ.  Paul reminds us that at one time we lived in total separation from God because of the flesh we inherited from Adam and Eve (Ephesians 2:11-12).  However, Paul also reminds us that this separation was miraculously bridged through the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross (Ephesians 2:13).  The blood of Jesus Christ has brought peace and broken down the wall of hostility between humanity and God that was formed when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden (Ephesians 2:14-16).  We are therefore now one in Christ and no longer living in hostility with God (Ephesians2:17-22). 

However, we still have the freedom to choose and therefore must decide if we want the connection with God restored in our lives.  I am writing this post on my computer but my computer is useless unless I plug it in to a power source. Fortunately, I have access to a power source and with my computer plugged in, I can complete this posting. 

In a similar fashion, the provision of reconnection with God is available to us all but we must plug into the power source for it to work in our lives.  Fortunately, connecting with God is just as simple as plugging in a computer for it only requires us to believe (John 3:16).  I invite you to plug in by praying with me now,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

You have now completed the reconnection with God by plugging in to the power source of salvation provided by the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross.  However, just as simply plugging in a computer to a power source accomplishes little unless one learns how to use the computer, having a solid connection with Christ involves developing a relationship with God by,

1)      Reading the Bible and regular attendance in a church teaching the Bible – Learning to use a computer usually involves reading a manual, possibly attending some classes, or having an expert sit with us and teach us how to use it.  Similarly, establishing a useful connection with God involves reading and studying the manual, the Bible, attending church where the Bible is taught, and listening to an expert who already has a solid useful connection with God. 

2)      Keeping the communication lines open with God through regular prayer – Modern computers are usually connected to the Internet through some direct connection or through Wi-Fi.  If this connection is maintained, the user of the computer has access to a wealth of information.  However, if the communication lines are broken through loss of connection, access to this information is stopped.  Regular prayer is our Wi-Fi connection to God and must be maintained through regular prayer with God.

3)      Regular fellowship with fellow believers – Even though as believers we have been reconnected with God, we still live in a disconnected world whose connection will only be restored when Jesus returns and heaven comes to earth (Revelation 21:1-4).  As we live in this disconnected world we will experience trouble (John16:33).  When we experience these troubles, it is powerful to have others praying with us for God promised to be anywhere where two or three are gathered in His name (Matthew 18:20).  However, if we do not regularly meet with other believers, we will not have access to others who can pray with us. 

In our troubled and uncertain times, establishing and maintaining a connection with God is extremely important.  Will you join me in establishing and developing a closer connection with God in 2017?