The Sweet Goodness of God

2 Corinthians-[in the context of the whole book].

Paul [the author] is like a pastor figure to a church of people in ancient Corinth, a place described as rich because of their high economy, as the center of world’s attention, and as a place of sexual immorality and other sins- like a city of sin. For me this could be compared to today’s America- center of the world’s attention, richest country, and yet so free to sin and influence the rest of the world by its behavior- like Las Vegas.

In the second letter Paul is trying to talk about his true heart for God. People then thought that he was not saying the truth, because he was not a good looking man, poor tent maker- so a working class man, and didn’t have what it takes to be popular in Las Vegas. And yet when he spoke, crowds saw God through him. Man after man, fell in love with this powerful and graceful God that this little not a good looking man presented to them. How is that possible?

In 5:14-15 he says how that is possible, as I write it, try to actually visualize it in your head: “Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat.” [Are you picturing yourself on a boat with people you like, don’t like, bad smelly people, losers and most of all- do you see yourself in the middle of it? I do. And my face is expressing my dissatisfaction with the situation.] then he goes on: “He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.” After few seconds of this unsatisfied face… I become humbled by these words and the picture. God wants all of us to live a better life. Do you get this? He put everyone on the same boat! That would mean: the lesbians, the murderers, the homeless, the sexual predators and me – the prideful one. Doesn’t that just make you angry? For me it does for a second, and then the joy of being given this chance overcomes the ugliness of the reality. God is so GOOD to do this. For me it is amazing to be stuck on the same boat with everyone else, because I am a very prideful person. This for me is a way of saying that I am a sinner, just like the sexual predator.

Then he says [5:16-20]: “Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new.” [woohoo!] and the famous line, that for the first time I truly understand in this context: “The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!” [that means prospers, or grows rapidly!]. And then it talks about the cool relationship that God created between him and us and that we need to also create between one another. But how exciting it is to hear that, we are ont his boat all together, but God sends his spirit and people to speak to us about his love and that way, allowing us to get out of this boat and start a new life!? [ps. We are on that boat from start, because humanity has been in sin, since pretty much the first day when we got bored with freedom and all that was known as good]. Paul says [please read the text it is much better], that he and his friends became Christ’s representatives to tell people about this amazing chance! He tells them: “Become friends with God; he is already a friend with you.” [5:21] “How? You ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.” I don’t know why I am so amazed by this story! But it seems that I can only be friends and right with God, because of Christ who got all the sin from my shoulders onto his own. Sad. And yet that sadness is once again overcome by the joy and life.

I have asked myself many times these last few months: how to live? What to do if I don’t want to go to church? What does God want of me? Why me? Why church? What do I believe? And in 5:9: “Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that’s what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions.” Look at the word choice: cheerfully- willingly, gladly or with a smile; pleasing- satisfying, agreeable or enjoyable; aim- to plan, to intend, like a goal; conditions- state of affairs. So my friend let me leave you with this amazing thought, which for me expresses the sweet goodness of our God:

Friends, willingly [and with a smile] satisfying God is the main thing, and that is what I intend to do, no matter the state of my affairs. What will you do?