Alva Review-Courier -

In our lives, there are people with whom we become really close, a friendship that seems almost unbreakable. We spend time together talking and sharing our innermost thoughts and ideas. We play games together, we share meals together, we keep secrets for each other and develop a bond that is so strong that nothing we feel, could ever break that bond. We call these people our best friends, and these relationships usually last a very long time, possibly till death finally parts us.

In Proverbs 18:24 it says, “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” We gather so much love from these relationships and they are very important in the fact that they help complete us. Some of us even marry our best friends and that relationship really completes us.

But sometimes, these relationships that we call our best friends, have very sad and painful breakups! Somebody does something, or says something, that really hurts the other person, intended or not, and when that happens, ties are broken, relationships are severed, marriages ended, and sometimes they remain broken permanently. Both parties of this breakup may blame the other person, and one or both may be right.

What really is important is that both sides try to get back together and reconcile their differences! Being reconciled in any relationship can heal many wounds that have been inflicted over time, and can create an even closer bond with the loved one! Matthew 5:23-24 says, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” The Lord teaches us to take a moment and try and be reconciled to those we consider to be our brothers and sisters. We are commanded to attempt reconciliation to the relationship that was lost.

This teaching from the Lord is a truth, and it is the best way for us to reconnect and strengthen a relationship. James 2:23 describes Abraham’s relationship with God as a friend, “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,' and he was called God’s friend.” This is how our relationship with God should be, a relation of friendship. Our relationship with God is strained at times just like the friendships we have here on earth. We as mankind, do this thing called “SIN” that breaks that relationship with the one who should be our best friend. The Law of Moses was brought in to teach us what sin is and does, Romans 3:20 says, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin” and I Corinthians 15:56 says, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.”

In II Corinthians 5:18-19 it says that God has built a path or roadway to reconciliation, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” When we broke the friendship with God through our sin, God made a way for us to return to that relationship through the powerful gift of His son Jesus Christ.

God desires a friendship or relationship with us so much that He gave His one and only son to die on a tree so that we could be His friend again! I’m not sure the world can even comprehend the amount of love that God displayed by sacrificing Jesus.

My wife and I lost a son six years ago to an injury received playing football. We understand about the pain of losing a son, but I promise you that we would have never given him to die for the world because we just don’t love the world that much!

God does love the world that much. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God loves us so much that He gave the most important person to Himself away, in order to reconcile us to Him after we separated ourselves from Him by our sin!

Let us be thankful that God does not let us stay apart after our relationship with Him is broken! Let us be thankful that He has made a way to reconcile with us so we may be friends forever! And the congregation says, “AMEN!”

We invite you to join us at College Hill Church of Christ, 1102 College Ave, each and every Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. for worship.