Whenever two nations who are at war finally stop their hostilities, they usually sign something called a peace treaty. A peace treaty has terms and conditions whereby the relationship between those two nations can continue.

Colossians 1 describes a peace treaty of sorts, that is, terms and conditions set before us to establish peace with God Himself. Jesus Christ stepped onto the battlefield and, through a singular action as the mediator of peace, brought two warring parties together. I'd call this nothing less than the world's greatest peace treaty.

How was this peace treaty achieved? In Colossians 1, Paul wrote, "It pleased the Father…by [Christ] to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight" (vv. 19-22).

In other words, if you are a believer, you have been reconciled to the Father--restored to a right relationship with Him--through the blood of Christ on the cross. It's Jesus' blood that brings you peace. No blood, no power (see Hebrews 9:22). You take out the blood, and you don't have the gospel at all.

Granted, the blood of Jesus tells us some very unpleasant truths: that we're sinners who can't save ourselves and that it's our sin Jesus bore on the cross, our debt that He paid. But I want you to know that Jesus did it willingly and gladly. He said, "No one takes [My life] from Me, but I lay it down of Myself" (John 10:18). And the Bible says, "For the joy that was set before Him [He] endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2). How incredible is that?

And right now, because of what He did on the cross, God views you very differently: you are "holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight." Now, you're not actually holy and blameless--yet. But He sees you that way, because He has justified you--He has declared you righteous because you have trusted in what Jesus did for you. And one day you will actually stand perfected in God's presence in a new, glorified body.

In the meantime, are you living like that's your reality? Do you believe that's how God sees you? Maybe you've been striving against the Lord--"[kicking] against the goads" (Acts 9:5)--and you haven't yet surrendered to Him. He's calling you to peace with Him. He wants you to know the war is over. So you best put up the white flag. Quit fighting the conviction of the Holy Spirit and say, "I surrender to Your terms and conditions." God did all the heavy lifting. He's just saying, "Sign on the dotted line. Receive this." Is that a good deal or what?