What Am I Compelled by?

Reflections for this date are based on the following scripture passages:
2 Corinthians 4	2 Corinthians 5	Leviticus 20	Leviticus 21	Psalms 48

The death of Christ for the sins of the world makes no sense to those who have not come to the point of belief. Their minds have been blinded by the "god of this age." A reference to Satan made by Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:4. It is by faith that understanding takes place. An understanding that comes from God. So if one who does not believe is blinded by Satan, how do they ever come to the point of belief? It comes by taking one simple step of faith. As a man once said to Jesus, "I do believe! Help my unbelief." We open ourselves to accept what we don't understand. It is the simple step of choosing to believe and thus opening the door for God to do the rest.

Many are deterred from accepting that Christ died for them and through faith receiving the salvation made possible by His death because it doesn't make sense to them. They mistakenly equate faith and understanding. But if we understand, where is the faith? Scripture tells us we are saved through faith in Jesus, which acknowledges to us that we will not understand it, requiring us to accept what we don't understand. But once we accept it understanding comes. It is conveyed, not intellectually, but spiritually, through the Spirit of God who dwells in us as a believer.

But once we accept, by faith, Christ as our savior, understanding is not the only thing that changes. Our whole purpose in life changes. It is no longer our own desire that compels us and drives what we do. Instead, it is Christ's love that compels us. The apostle Paul said it this way, "For Christ's love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: if One died for all, then all died." It was not Paul's love for Christ that motivated Paul's actions, though that was also present. But it was Christ's love for Paul that was his motivation. Christ loved him so much He died for Paul. This motivated Paul no longer to live for himself, but to live for Christ who died for him.

Here is the bottom line. Paul said, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come." Beginning with a simple step of faith to say, "Lord, I don't understand, but I want to believe, help my unbelief," we are ushered into a new life. We become a new creation. Old things pass away and new things come to pass.