The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 1:21,
"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior."
The Scriptures speak of a sinful nature all mankind is born into. We inherit it as it has been passed down to us from the beginning of mankind when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden. As part of God's judgment, they, and all their progeny have been given over to this sinful nature. The writers of Scripture confess to their sinful condition from birth, "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.", Psalm 51:5. Likewise, the observation is made, "Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies." Psalm 58:3. Who are the wicked? All of us! In Paul's famous words, "All have sinned..." Romans 3:23.
Jesus told Nicodemus that the wonderful offer of eternal life was contingent upon us embracing him in faith, John 3:18. He also told him that the sinful proclivity of many would keep them from coming to him because of their sin, John 3:19-20. This helps us understand the point Paul makes in our above verse, Colossians 1:21. Sin turns our minds against the Lord.
What is horrible about this circumstance is that God loves us. He loves us so much he sent his Son to die a miserable death to pay the penalty for our sins. Unfortunately, many will cling to their sin and so maintain an adversarial attitude toward God in their minds. As it turns out, the greatest act of love ever expressed is often met with animosity. All believers have experienced this hostility from unbelievers when the conversation turns to the Lord and the gospel message.
The good news is, that animosity on the part of the unsaved is penetrated at times as they recognize the love God has for them. This was true of the Colossian believers and has become true for all those who have embraced the Lord in faith. This is why Paul calls the gospel the power of God for salvation, Romans 1:16.
God's disposition towards us is one of love. He holds his arms wide open to all who will turn to him. To be certain, our God is that very same God who will cast all into a fiery lake of burning sulfur who reject him (see Revelation 21:8)... but at this time his kindness and love is expressed in the payment his Son made on that cross and the invitation he makes to all of us.
Right now, those who have not accepted God's offer through the gospel are enemies in their own minds. It does not have to be that way. I am reminded of the posture the Lord takes toward sinful mankind in his lament over Jerusalem, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing." Luke 13:34. Also, the Lord's observation in Isaiah 65:2-3, "All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations— a people who continually provoke me to my very face..."
God reaches out to us with open arms and is met with sinful man's hostility, unless that hostility is pierced by the gospel and the Lord's invitation is embraced in faith.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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