What has to happen before reconciliation is necessary?
Before reconciliation becomes necessary, a separation or distancing must first occur. If two parties have never been divided or estranged, there is no need for reconciliation. Reconciliation applies only after a relationship has been broken, as when a husband and wife drift apart and become almost enemies.
Les teaches that whenever reconciliation becomes necessary, there first has to have been a separation. Someone who has never separated or distanced themselves from another has no room for reconciliation. He uses the everyday illustration of a husband and wife: if they have never had difficulties or any idea of separation, there is no point in reconciliation for them. But a couple with marital problems who have drifted apart and become almost enemies are candidates for reconciliation; marriage counseling aims to bring them back to common ground. Les says the same thing has happened in the spiritual realm with man and God. God created man in His own image, had fellowship with him in the Garden, and walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day; everything was sweet fellowship and fine. That separation made reconciliation necessary, and Paul writes that God has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ—referring to His death on the cross, shed blood, and power in resurrection, giving us the ministry of reconciliation.
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
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