So That

Today's a great day to think about the New Covenant - to reflect on the fact that God took the old way (which ended in death) and up-ended it. Everything the Law said and did was to point toward what Christ would do. And now...He's done it! "God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin so that we could be made right with God through Christ." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

This letter to the Corinthian church is not only laced with Christology - who He is, what He came to do, how He accomplished it - it is also filled with instruction and guidance as to what all of it means for us. WHO have I become, WHAT am I to do, HOW should I be living in response to what Christ has done? We could go in several directions here, but I simply want to point out a couple of my favorite words in scripture that help us in this exploration: SO THAT.

Go back and check out 2 Corinthians 5:21. Why did Christ offer himself up in this way for us? "...so that we could be made right with God." This is huge, is it not? We were dead, we were lost, we were hopeless & guilty. But in Christ, not anymore! This should compel us to live differently. This news should transform our hearts and change the way we look, talk, act, think, drive, and live. Right? In chapter 3, Paul begins talking about the veil that is lifted when we believe in Christ. The Old Covenant put the veil there and it must be lifted so that we can see that Christ died for our freedom. He plainly tells us that "wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom." I like that idea. But don't miss the kicker - don't let the purpose & point of this slip past you. 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that "all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord." Are you in need of some purpose for your life? Have you been wondering, "Lord, what did you put me here for?" You now have your answer!

Ladies & Gentlemen, we are here to be a light in the darkness - a mirror that reflects the character and person of Jesus Christ. The more He works within us, the more we become like Him (Paul's words, not mine). And this is for HIS glory, not ours. HIS glory. OUR lives. HIS glory. Repeat it. Chant it. Meditate on it. YOUR life. HIS glory! He came, He lived, He healed, He died, He rose again, He sent His Spirit so that........!