Ephesians 2:17
And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
God is speaking His message to everyone. The underlying theme has been the same since the fall. That is peace. Peace between others is a secondary theme. Peace between God and man is the main one. Ever since our first parents ate the fruit, there has been a division between God and man. God warned that in “the day you eat of it, you shall die.” Genesis 2:17. Spiritual death was the result. This is a seperation between God and man. Sin came between the two parties. People now have a void within where God once filled. This void produces an appetite that only God can fill. People have attempted to fill it with a myriad of things. We have our hobbies, relationships, sex, drugs, rock and roll, power, money, religion and more. Most of these are good, but none will satisfy the God appetite. Religion is man’s attempt to reach God. Jesus’ death was God’s attempt to reach man. That is the way. Ever since the fall God has sought to repair the problem. Immediately after the fall, He slew some animals and made clothes for them. This wasn’t the final fix, just temporary. The real fix was very difficult and costly. It was one only God could do.
The above passage says that He came to those far and near. I think those near where the jews, as God gave them a system of worship. However, since the time of christ, those near are those familiar with christianity or possibly church goers. However, we were all far in our own way. I can picture a young child separated from her mom in a busy shopping mall. The child may be doing her best to search for her, but she often makes things worse. I can also imagine a young camper lost in the woods. We may think we know the way, but our efforts often make us more lost. We may be morally lost, emotionally lost, relationally lost and on and on. We know what lost feels like. God comes to us and wants to give us hope. Many of us were lost and weren’t aware of our lostness. God attempts to get our attention. Jesus speaks of the shepherd who lost a sheep. He leaves the 99 secure ones to seek for the lost one. This is God’s heart. He is forever reaching out. He uses many means to do this: angels, people circumstances, etc. God wants to use us, His people, as willing participants. Lord, thank You that You are seeking us. Help us to yield to Your voice. Thank You!!