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¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: 
The old has gone, the new is here!¹⁸ All this is from God, 
who reconciled us to himself through Christ 
and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:¹⁹ 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.²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, 
as though God were making his appeal through us. 
We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:17-20

Have you ever reached the end of a book or movie only to discover you’d just finished part one of a series? The cliffhanger, the promise of something bigger and better, kept you in suspense until the next release.

Many years ago Paul Harvey recorded a weekly radio broadcast called “The Rest of the Story.” He would share a true tale about an ordinary person or incident, and then he’d tell us he’d be right back with “the rest of the story.” After a commercial or three, we’d hear a heartwarming ending to bring hope and restore our faith in humanity.

I believe Second Corinthians 5 is like that. It’s “the rest of the story.”

As a Christian, I can never be too appreciative of everything Jesus did. Can you believe he left the beauty and perfection of heaven to walk on this earth, to experience life as a human so we can know He understands us? His death and suffering on my behalf leaves me speechless, and the resurrection is too marvelous for words. When we share the gospel, we generally tell our friends these extraordinary truths sprinkled with the message of Christ’s astonishing gifts of love and forgiveness. But too often, we leave it there. We don’t give them a hint there’s more.

I realize the basic truth of the gospel is enough; however, it’s not the end. For a long time I lived with an incomplete view of the fullness of Christianity. I had a basic understanding of forgiveness and the fundamentals of salvation. Then I discovered I saw the gospel from a human perspective of forgiveness.

In a world where offering forgiveness doesn’t necessarily mean friendship is or should be restored, forgiveness and reconciliation are not synonymous. However, in a perfect Kingdom, the two are one. Reconciliation is the most exciting part of the gospel of Jesus Christ!

You see, I’m not just forgiven. I’m more than made new. The One who created me offers full restoration. Christ calls me friend (John 15:15). The Sovereign Ruler of the Universe walks me with in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8). His Spirit speaks to my heart. My tears of regret become laughter, my sorrow becomes joy, and Jesus invites me to dance with Him. (Jeremiah 31:13) My Savior and Redeemer, the One who paid the price for my ransom, the Father I hurt beyond measure when I wasted the treasures He gave me, anxiously waited for my return, and not only did He forgive me, He ran out to meet me, brought me back into the Garden of His Estate and gave me a huge share of the inheritance just as if I’d never left.

The Bible promises full reconciliation, but too often the sequel never gets told. So as you share the goodness of Jesus as well as His love and forgiveness, remember to tell the Rest of the Story.

You see, I’m not just forgiven. I’m more than made new. My relationship with the One who created me is restored. Christ calls me friend (John 15:15). The Sovereign Ruler of the Universe walks me with in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8). His Spirit speaks to my heart. My tears of regret become laughter, my sorrow becomes joy, and Jesus invites me to dance with Him. (Jeremiah 31:13) My Savior and Redeemer, the One who paid the price for my ransom, the Father I hurt beyond measure when I wasted the treasures He gave me anxiously waited for my return, and not only did He forgive me, He ran out to meet me, brought me back into the Garden of His Estate and gave me a huge share of the inheritance just as if I’d never left.

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